Tidewater Community College vs. Virginia Western Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Tidewater Community College is larger than Virginia Western Community College based on total student enrollment (16,884 students vs. 6,332 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Tidewater Community College is located in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting); Virginia Western Community College is in Roanoke, VA (Small City setting).
• Tidewater Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Virginia Western Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Tidewater Community College 22:1; Virginia Western Community College 23:1.

Tidewater Community College vs. Virginia Western Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tidewater Community College or Virginia Western Community College? 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 Virginia Western Community College than Tidewater Community College ($5,492 vs. $11,876).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Western Community College are 55.1% lower than at Tidewater Community College ($6,936 vs. $15,452).
• Tidewater Community College is 3.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Western Community College (about $188 more per year; $5,588.00 vs. $5,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Tidewater Community College than at Virginia Western Community College (about $458 more per year; $12,296.00 vs. $11,838.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Western Community College than at Tidewater Community College (77% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tidewater Community College students is 27.1% larger than aid received by Virginia Western Community College students ($7,648 vs. $6,017).

Tidewater Community College vs. Virginia Western Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Tidewater Community College or Virginia Western Community College? 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 Virginia Western Community College 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; Virginia Western Community College - Open admission.

Tidewater Community College vs. Virginia Western Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tidewater Community College and Virginia Western Community College? 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 $2,300 more per year than Virginia Western Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,300 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Tidewater Community College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Virginia Western Community College graduates ($9,500 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Tidewater Community College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Western Community College graduates ($98 vs. $124).
• More Virginia Western Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tidewater Community College students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 32%)

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.