Tidewater Community College
#7 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Virginia- Graduation Rate
- 31% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,349 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $11,762 B-
- 31% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 12,082
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.8 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Virginia.
Every $1 spent returns $19.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $882,364.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Graduation of 31% — 46% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $19.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Tidewater Community College Matters
Tidewater Community College is a public community college in Norfolk, 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 Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 12,082
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech
Why students choose Tidewater 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 $11,762 a year after grants and scholarships — 31% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,349 ten years after enrolling — 6% below the typical college, against $10,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 44% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.11 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With over 12,000 students enrolled, Tidewater Community College serves a diverse population looking for practical education paths. It's a good fit for those interested in fields like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech, and Computer Science & IT. This variety allows students to tailor their education to fit their career goals and local job market needs.
Looking at life after graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $38,349 within ten years of completing their studies. That number is significant because it reflects the real-world opportunities available to graduates. The affordability factor is also in play here, as the net price after aid is about $11,762, which can help keep student debt manageable and accessible for many families.
On that note, the median debt for graduates stands at $10,000, indicating that while some debt is to be expected, it remains within a reasonable range. The financial landscape here tends to favor those who are proactive about their studies and career planning, which is essential for success. Students who thrive at Tidewater Community College are typically those who appreciate a hands-on, community-focused learning environment and are eager to enter the workforce with practical skills.
Rankings
- #7 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Virginia
- #9 Best Online Education Programs in Virginia
- #11 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Virginia
- #11 Best Online Business Programs in Virginia
- #12 Best Online Nursing Programs in Virginia
- #20 Best Computer Science Colleges in Virginia
- #20 Best Data Science Colleges in Virginia
- #22 Most Affordable Colleges in Virginia
Can I Get In?
How selective Tidewater 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 Tidewater Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Norfolk, Virginia, Tidewater Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.
- Retention Rate
- 64%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 33%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,241
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 20:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.72
- First-Gen Students
- 42%
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 Tidewater Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Tidewater Community College is $12,296, 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 $11,762. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,222 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,588
- Out-of-State
- $12,296
- Avg Net Price
- $11,762
- Median Debt
- $10,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 30%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 8%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,222
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,613
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,473
- Family Income $110K+
- $18,652
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 Tidewater 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 Tidewater Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Tidewater Community College report median earnings of $38,349, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,700
- 8 Years
- $34,428
- 10 Years
- $38,349
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 48%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (307)
- 14%
- 100% (307)
- 14%
- 100% (307)
- 14%
- 100% (307)
- 14%
How Tidewater 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 Tidewater Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Tidewater Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $11,762/year ($47,048 total). Graduates earn $38,349 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $929,412 in total earnings — a net gain of $882,364 (19.8× your investment). The median debt is $10,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 31% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $47,048
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $929,412
- Net Return
- $882,364
- ROI Multiple
- 19.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $11,762
- Median Debt
- $10,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 31%
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 Tidewater Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Tidewater 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 1.58%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14.8% 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 10.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $65,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.58%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 10.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 14.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $88,992
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $3,279,580
- Federal Grants
- $3,576,169
- Investment Income
- $423,306
Top Programs
The fields Tidewater 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.
- Humanities 22%
- Business & Marketing 10% $36,462 early-career
- Health Professions 10% $61,738 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 8% $39,121 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 6% $36,077 early-career
- Social Sciences 4% $27,940 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 3% $21,762 early-career
- Construction Trades 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 Tidewater 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 Tidewater Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Norfolk, Virginia, Tidewater Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Tidewater Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Tidewater Community College is $12,296, 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 $11,762. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,222 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,000 in federal student loans.
Is Tidewater Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Tidewater Community College report median earnings of $38,349, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Tidewater Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Tidewater 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 1.58%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14.8% 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 10.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $65,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Tidewater 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 Tidewater Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.11, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.05), 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 Tidewater Community College.
- Los Angeles City CollegeLos Angeles, CA · Close peer27% grad $36,190 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- San Diego City CollegeSan Diego, CA · Close peer28% grad $38,503 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- San Bernardino Valley CollegeSan Bernardino, CA · Close peer24% grad $39,676 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cape Fear Community CollegeWilmington, NC · Close peer34% grad $38,654 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Tulsa Community CollegeTulsa, OK · Close peer28% grad $39,746 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Community College of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA · Close peer22% grad $40,852 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Tidewater 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 Tidewater Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.11, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.05), 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