Central Virginia Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 43% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $36,627 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $6,928 A-
- 60% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,249
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 31.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $31.0 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $31.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $832,080.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Graduation of 43% — 25% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $31.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Central Virginia Community College Matters
Central Virginia Community College is a public college in Lynchburg, VA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 2,249
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Precision Production, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Central Virginia Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $6,928 a year after grants and scholarships — 60% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $36,627 ten years after enrolling — 10% below the typical college, against $8,625 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 92% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.08 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of just over 2,200 students, Central Virginia Community College is an accessible choice for those looking to jumpstart their education in a supportive environment. It’s a good fit for individuals pursuing programs like Humanities, Health Professions, Precision Production, Criminal Justice, and Business & Marketing. The college’s relatively small size fosters a close-knit community, making it easier for students to connect with faculty and peers, which can be crucial for academic success.
Looking at life after graduation, students can expect an average earnings figure of about $36,627 ten years after completing their studies. That’s a solid starting point, especially when you consider the affordability of attending Central Virginia Community College. The net price after financial aid is approximately $6,928, which is quite manageable for many. This financial accessibility helps pave the way for students to improve their economic situations, even as 36% of attendees receive Pell Grants to support their education.
When it comes to practicalities, the median debt for graduates stands at $8,625, which is relatively low compared to many other institutions. This manageable debt load makes it easier for graduates to focus on their careers rather than stressing about student loans. Those who thrive here often appreciate the community feel and the hands-on training offered in various programs, which can make the transition to the workforce smoother and more effective.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Central Virginia Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Central Virginia Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Lynchburg, Virginia, Central Virginia Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
- Retention Rate
- 64%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 30%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,179
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.61
- First-Gen Students
- 43%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Central Virginia Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Central Virginia Community College is $11,595, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,928. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,752 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,625 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,157
- Out-of-State
- $11,595
- Avg Net Price
- $6,928
- Median Debt
- $8,625
- Pell Grant Rate
- 36%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 3%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $5,752
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,256
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,639
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,434
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Central Virginia Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Central Virginia Community College report median earnings of $36,627, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,969
- 8 Years
- $35,883
- 10 Years
- $36,627
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.24x
- Earning > $25K
- 42%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (88)
- 23%
- 100% (88)
- 23%
- 100% (88)
- 23%
- 100% (88)
- 23%
How Central Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Central Virginia Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Central Virginia Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,928/year ($27,712 total). Graduates earn $36,627 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $859,792 in total earnings — a net gain of $832,080 (31.0× your investment). The median debt is $8,625, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 43% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $27,712
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $859,792
- Net Return
- $832,080
- ROI Multiple
- 31.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,928
- Median Debt
- $8,625
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 43%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Central Virginia Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Central Virginia Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.68%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.68%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 6.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 11.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $68,600
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $1,797,421
- Federal Grants
- $829,371
- Investment Income
- $823
Top Programs
The fields Central Virginia Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Humanities 36%
- Health Professions 33%
- Precision Production 12%
- Criminal Justice 4%
- Business & Marketing 2%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 2%
- Construction Trades 1%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Central Virginia Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Central Virginia Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Lynchburg, Virginia, Central Virginia Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Central Virginia Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Central Virginia Community College is $11,595, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,928. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,752 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,625 in federal student loans.
Is Central Virginia Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Central Virginia Community College report median earnings of $36,627, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Central Virginia Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Central Virginia Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.68%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Central Virginia Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Central Virginia Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Central Virginia Community College.
- Black Hawk CollegeMoline, IL · Close peer41% grad $37,253 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman CollegeChicago, IL · Close peer32% grad $36,484 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Davidson-Davie Community CollegeThomasville, NC · Close peer44% grad $36,337 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Hopkinsville Community CollegeHopkinsville, KY · Close peer41% grad $36,323 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Coalinga CollegeCoalinga, CA · Close peer43% grad $37,633 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cowley County Community CollegeArkansas City, KS · Close peer46% grad $37,723 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Central Virginia Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Central Virginia Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note