Northern Virginia Community College
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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
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 school reports a graduation rate of roughly 35%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending Northern Virginia Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $12,409 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $9,919 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,463 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $11,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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 national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
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.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Northern 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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Northern Virginia Community College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
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 school reports a graduation rate of roughly 35%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northern Virginia Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Northern Virginia Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $12,409 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $9,919 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,463 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $11,000.
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 national averages for 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.46 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely 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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.46 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note