Northern Virginia Community College
#1 Best Computer Science Colleges in Virginia- Graduation Rate
- 35% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $53,557 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $9,919 B
- 42% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 33,048
Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 39.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $39.0 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Computer Science Colleges in Virginia.
Every $1 spent returns $39.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,507,752.
What The Data Says
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A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 31% above the national college median.
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Graduation of 35% — 38% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 2.52% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $39.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.2%
- Top 82%
- Patents
- 45
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 1,389
- Downstream influence
Why Northern Virginia Community College Matters
Northern Virginia Community College is a public community college in Annandale, VA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 33,048
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Computer Science & IT, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Health Professions
Why students choose Northern 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 $9,919 a year after grants and scholarships — 42% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $53,557 ten years after enrolling — 31% above the typical college, against $11,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 17% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.46 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of over 33,000 students, Northern Virginia Community College is a great fit for those looking to jumpstart their education in a supportive environment. Students can dive into programs like Computer Science and IT, Business and Marketing, Humanities, Health Professions, and Social Sciences. What stands out is the diverse range of study options that cater to various interests and career paths, making it an accessible choice for many.
After graduation, students can expect to earn a median salary of $53,557 within ten years. This number serves as a solid benchmark for those weighing their options. With a net price of $9,919 after financial aid, the school remains affordable, especially when considering that 20% of students receive Pell Grants. This financial support can make a significant difference, allowing graduates to focus on building their careers rather than being burdened by heavy debt.
Speaking of debt, the median debt for graduates is $11,000, which is manageable compared to many other institutions. This affordability, combined with a supportive community, tends to attract students who are motivated to improve their lives and careers. Whether you're returning to school or starting fresh, many find success here, particularly those who utilize the resources available to them.
Rankings
- #1 Best Computer Science Colleges in Virginia
- #1 Best Data Science Colleges in Virginia
- #7 Best Psychology Colleges in Virginia
- #8 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Virginia
- #9 Best Engineering Colleges in Virginia
- #10 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Virginia
- #10 Best Online Education Programs in Virginia
- #12 Best Online Business Programs in Virginia
Can I Get In?
How selective Northern 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 Northern Virginia Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Annandale, Virginia, Northern Virginia Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 38%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,012
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 28:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.79
- First-Gen Students
- 41%
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 Northern Virginia Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northern Virginia Community College is $12,409, 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 $9,919. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,463 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,891
- Out-of-State
- $12,409
- Avg Net Price
- $9,919
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 20%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 7%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,463
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,317
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,762
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,630
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 Northern Virginia Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Northern Virginia Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $53,557, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $40,698
- 8 Years
- $46,652
- 10 Years
- $53,557
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.21x
- Earning > $25K
- 61%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (845)
- 15%
- 100% (845)
- 15%
- 100% (845)
- 15%
- 100% (845)
- 15%
How Northern 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 Northern Virginia Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Northern Virginia Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,919/year ($39,676 total). Graduates earn $53,557 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,547,428 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,507,752 (39.0× your investment). The median debt is $11,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 35% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $39,676
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,547,428
- Net Return
- $1,507,752
- ROI Multiple
- 39.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,919
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 35%
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 Northern Virginia Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Northern Virginia 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 2.52%, among the highest in the country. About 9.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $86,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.52%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 26.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 9.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $117,116
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Northern Virginia Community College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 45 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.16%
- Top 82% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 45
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 1,389
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.18%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-1,436,801
Top Programs
The fields Northern Virginia 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.
- Computer Science & IT 27% $46,665 early-career
- Business & Marketing 16% $45,495 early-career
- Humanities 12%
- Health Professions 8% $72,364 early-career
- Social Sciences 4% $32,439 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4% $26,301 early-career
- Engineering 3% $31,312 early-career
- Psychology 3%
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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Northern 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 Northern Virginia Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Annandale, Virginia, Northern Virginia Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northern Virginia Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northern Virginia Community College is $12,409, 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 $9,919. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,463 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
Is Northern Virginia Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $53,557, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Northern Virginia Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Northern Virginia 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 2.52%, among the highest in the country. About 9.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $86,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Northern 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 high at Northern Virginia Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.46, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Northern Virginia Community College.
- Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut, CA · Close peer42% grad $46,283 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Diablo Valley CollegePleasant Hill, CA · Close peer47% grad $51,378 earnWhy: similar earnings
- American River CollegeSacramento, CA · Strong match35% grad $40,162 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Montgomery CollegeRockville, MD · Strong match30% grad $50,159 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Salt Lake Community CollegeSalt Lake City, UT · Strong match29% grad $47,867 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar net price
- Evergreen Valley CollegeSan Jose, CA · Strong match42% grad $53,077 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Northern 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 high at Northern Virginia Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.46, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note