Virginia Western Community College vs. Centura College-Norfolk

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia Western Community College is larger than Centura College-Norfolk based on total student enrollment (6,332 students vs. 163 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Virginia Western Community College is located in Roanoke, VA (Small City setting); Centura College Norfolk is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
• Virginia Western Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Centura College Norfolk is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Virginia Western Community College 23:1; Centura College Norfolk 14:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Virginia Western Community College or Centura College-Norfolk? 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-Norfolk ($5,492 vs. $30,770).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Western Community College are 40.1% lower than at Centura College Norfolk ($6,936 vs. $11,581).
• Centura College Norfolk 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-Norfolk 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 Norfolk than at Virginia Western Community College (78% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Centura College Norfolk students is 1.2% larger than aid received by Virginia Western Community College students ($6,091 vs. $6,017).

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

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Virginia Western Community College and Centura College-Norfolk? 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-Norfolk 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-Norfolk 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-Norfolk graduates ($124 vs. $206).
• More Virginia Western Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Centura College-Norfolk 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.