Virginia Western Community College vs. Centura College-Chesapeake

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia Western Community College is larger than Centura College-Chesapeake based on total student enrollment (6,332 students vs. 191 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Virginia Western Community College is located in Roanoke, VA (Small City setting); Centura College Chesapeake is in Chesapeake, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Virginia Western 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: Virginia Western Community College 23:1; Centura College Chesapeake 19:1.

Virginia Western Community College vs. Centura College-Chesapeake Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Virginia Western 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 Virginia Western Community College than Centura College-Chesapeake ($5,492 vs. $26,551).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Western Community College are 40.1% lower than at Centura College Chesapeake ($6,936 vs. $11,581).
• Centura College Chesapeake is 208.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Western Community College (about $11,237 more per year; $16,637.00 vs. $5,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 40.5% higher at Centura College-Chesapeake than at Virginia Western Community College (about $4,799 more per year; $16,637.00 vs. $11,838.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Centura College Chesapeake than at Virginia Western Community College (89% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Centura College Chesapeake students is 6.7% larger than aid received by Virginia Western Community College students ($6,419 vs. $6,017).

Virginia Western Community College vs. Centura College-Chesapeake Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Virginia Western 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 Virginia Western Community College.

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

Virginia Western Community College vs. Centura College-Chesapeake Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Virginia Western 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 Virginia Western Community College earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Centura College-Chesapeake graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,000 vs. $25,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Western Community College graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than Centura College-Chesapeake graduates ($12,000 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Virginia Western Community College graduates have an estimated $82 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Centura College-Chesapeake graduates ($124 vs. $206).
• More Virginia Western Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Centura College-Chesapeake students, three years after graduation. (37% 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.