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New River Community College

#7 Most Affordable Colleges in Virginia
Public Dublin, VA · Town · Southeast · 87% data
A Value A- Affordability C Earnings
Graduation Rate
47% D+
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$40,025 C
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$6,279 A-
63% less than the typical college
Enrollment
1,965
Earnings -2% vs avg
Graduation -18% vs avg
Net Price +-63% vs avg
Mobility Top 53%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 40.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $40.7 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Most Affordable Colleges in Virginia.

40.7× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $40.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $996,969.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Every $1 invested returns $40.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why New River Community College Matters

New River Community College is a public college in Dublin, 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
1,965
Setting
Town
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Precision Production

Why students choose New River Community College

Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 43% overall
C
Earnings
$40,025 median
A
Value
6.4× net price
A-
Affordability
$6,279/yr net
D+
Graduation
47% graduate
C
Social Mobility
1.4% climb Q1→Q5
D
Diversity
0.35 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

New River Community College is a great fit for students looking for a supportive environment to explore various fields. With about 1,965 students, it’s not too big, making it easier to connect with classmates and instructors. Those studying Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, or Mechanic & Repair Tech find their interests well addressed here. The emphasis on hands-on learning in these areas often resonates with students who prefer practical experience alongside their academic pursuits.

After graduation, students at New River can expect to earn around $40,025 within ten years. This figure is encouraging, especially considering the relatively low cost of attending. Many graduates find themselves in a solid position to move up in their careers, thanks to the skills gained during their studies. The school’s affordability plays a significant role in this; students can expect a net price of about $6,279 after financial aid, which makes it accessible to a broad range of learners.

When it comes to debt, the median amount for graduates is around $9,000, which is manageable for many. This lower debt burden allows graduates to focus on building their careers rather than stressing over finances. Students who thrive here tend to be those who appreciate a close-knit community and are motivated to take advantage of the hands-on learning opportunities available. Overall, New River Community College offers a practical, affordable pathway to a successful future.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective New River Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into New River Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

New River Community College, located in Dublin, Virginia, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 47%.

Retention Rate
68%
Full-Time Faculty
33%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$8,915
Student–Faculty Ratio
28:1
Diversity Index
0.35
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 New River Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at New River Community College is $11,417, 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 $6,279. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,883 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$4,979
Out-of-State
$11,417
Avg Net Price
$6,279
Median Debt
$9,000
Pell Grant Rate
23%
Federal Loan Rate
3%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$4,883
Family Income $30K–$48K
$5,363
Family Income $48K–$75K
$7,993
Family Income $110K+
$12,263

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at New River Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is New River Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of New River Community College report median earnings of $40,025, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$32,910
8 Years
$37,173
10 Years
$40,025
Debt-to-Earnings
0.22x
Earning > $25K
48%

Earnings Trajectory

$32,910 6yr $37,173 8yr $40,025 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (169)
31%
100% (169)
31%
100% (169)
31%
100% (169)
31%

How New Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation47%Earnings 10yr$40KNet Price$6KRetention68%Median Debt$9KPell Grant Rate23%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$5K$0-30K$5K$30-48K$8K$48-75K$12K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%11.7%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%12.2%MOBILITY1.42%

College ROI Calculator

Is New River Community College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, New River Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,279/year ($25,116 total). Graduates earn $40,025 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,022,085 in total earnings — a net gain of $996,969 (40.7× your investment). The median debt is $9,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 47% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$25,116
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,022,085
Net Return
$996,969
ROI Multiple
40.7×
Cost Per Year
$6,279
Median Debt
$9,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
47%

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 New River Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

New River Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.42%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.7% 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 12.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.42%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
12.2%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
11.7%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$92,388
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is New River 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 New River Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.09, 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 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.09
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
8.9%
Support Ratio
0.99
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$1,072,657
Investment Income
$45,911

Top Programs

The fields New River Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into New River Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

New River Community College, located in Dublin, Virginia, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 47%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend New River Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at New River Community College is $11,417, 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 $6,279. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,883 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,000 in federal student loans.

Is New River Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of New River Community College report median earnings of $40,025, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Does New River Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

New River Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.42%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.7% 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 12.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is New River 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 New River Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.09, 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 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to New River Community College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys