Tidewater Community College vs. Centura College-Chesapeake

Comparable Facts

Compare Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, VA with Centura College Chesapeake in Chesapeake, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Tidewater Community College is larger than Centura College-Chesapeake based on total student enrollment (16,884 students vs. 191 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Tidewater Community College is located in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting); Centura College Chesapeake is in Chesapeake, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Tidewater Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Centura College Chesapeake is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Tidewater Community College 22:1; Centura College Chesapeake 19:1.

Tidewater Community College vs. Centura College-Chesapeake Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tidewater Community College or Centura College-Chesapeake? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Tidewater Community College than Centura College-Chesapeake ($11,876 vs. $26,551).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centura College Chesapeake are 25.1% lower than at Tidewater Community College ($11,581 vs. $15,452).
• Centura College Chesapeake is 197.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tidewater Community College (about $11,049 more per year; $16,637.00 vs. $5,588.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 35.3% higher at Centura College-Chesapeake than at Tidewater Community College (about $4,341 more per year; $16,637.00 vs. $12,296.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Centura College Chesapeake than at Tidewater Community College (89% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tidewater Community College students is 19.1% larger than aid received by Centura College Chesapeake students ($7,648 vs. $6,419).

Tidewater Community College vs. Centura College-Chesapeake Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Tidewater Community College or Centura College-Chesapeake? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Centura College-Chesapeake and Tidewater Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tidewater Community College - Open admission; Centura College-Chesapeake - Open admission.

Tidewater Community College vs. Centura College-Chesapeake Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tidewater Community College and Centura College-Chesapeake? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Tidewater Community College earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than Centura College-Chesapeake graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,300 vs. $25,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Tidewater Community College graduates have a $10,500 lower median loan debt than Centura College-Chesapeake graduates ($9,500 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Tidewater Community College graduates have an estimated $108 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Centura College-Chesapeake graduates ($98 vs. $206).
• More Tidewater Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Centura College-Chesapeake students, three years after graduation. (32% vs. 12%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.