Virginia Western Community College
#2 Most Affordable Colleges in Virginia- Graduation Rate
- 40% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,787 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $4,966 A
- 71% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,898
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 45.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $45.8 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Most Affordable Colleges in Virginia.
Every $1 spent returns $45.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $890,896.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 40% — 29% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $45.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Virginia Western Community College Matters
Virginia Western Community College is a public college in Roanoke, 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
- 3,898
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Construction Trades
Why students choose Virginia Western 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 $4,966 a year after grants and scholarships — 71% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,787 ten years after enrolling — 5% below the typical college, against $11,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 61% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.05 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With nearly 3,900 students enrolled, Virginia Western Community College is a solid choice for those looking to jumpstart their careers or explore different fields without the pressure of a large university setting. The college stands out for its broad range of programs, including Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Computer Science & IT. This diversity allows students to tailor their education to their interests and career goals, making it an appealing option for many.
When it comes to what happens after graduation, the numbers tell a promising story. Graduates earn an average of $38,787 within ten years of completing their studies. This can be especially significant for students who are mindful of affordability, as the net price for attending Virginia Western is just $4,966 after aid. For many, this means entering the job market with manageable debt, as the median debt among graduates stands at $11,000.
Ultimately, the practicalities of attending Virginia Western make it a smart choice for budget-conscious learners. The school tends to attract individuals who are motivated to gain specific skills for the workforce while keeping costs low. Those who thrive here often appreciate a supportive environment that encourages exploration and practical application of knowledge.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Virginia Western 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 Virginia Western Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Roanoke, Virginia, Virginia Western Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.
- Retention Rate
- 63%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 32%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,473
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 23:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.53
- First-Gen Students
- 44%
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 Virginia Western Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Virginia Western Community College is $11,838, 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 $4,966. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,105 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,400
- Out-of-State
- $11,838
- Avg Net Price
- $4,966
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 30%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 5%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,105
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,770
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,332
- Family Income $110K+
- $10,786
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 Virginia Western 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 Virginia Western Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Virginia Western Community College report median earnings of $38,787, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,847
- 8 Years
- $36,672
- 10 Years
- $38,787
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.28x
- Earning > $25K
- 48%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (148)
- 21%
- 100% (148)
- 21%
- 100% (148)
- 21%
- 100% (148)
- 21%
How Virginia 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 Virginia Western Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Virginia Western Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $4,966/year ($19,864 total). Graduates earn $38,787 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $910,760 in total earnings — a net gain of $890,896 (45.8× your investment). The median debt is $11,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 40% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $19,864
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $910,760
- Net Return
- $890,896
- ROI Multiple
- 45.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $4,966
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 40%
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 Virginia Western Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Virginia Western 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 1.27%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.6% 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 10.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.27%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 10.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 11.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $90,758
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $340,469
- Investment Income
- $14,938
Top Programs
The fields Virginia Western 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.
- Health Professions 27% $63,612 early-career
- Humanities 21%
- Business & Marketing 9% $41,658 early-career
- Construction Trades 5% $32,586 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 4% $40,390 early-career
- Social Sciences 4% $23,116 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 3% $39,620 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 3% $28,100 early-career
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 Virginia Western 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 Virginia Western Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Roanoke, Virginia, Virginia Western Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Virginia Western Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Virginia Western Community College is $11,838, 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 $4,966. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,105 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
Is Virginia Western Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Virginia Western Community College report median earnings of $38,787, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Virginia Western Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Virginia Western 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 1.27%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.6% 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 10.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Virginia Western 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 Virginia Western Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.05, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), 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 Virginia Western Community College.
- Georgia Northwestern Technical CollegeRome, GA · Close peer38% grad $35,759 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lincoln Land Community CollegeSpringfield, IL · Close peer45% grad $38,479 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Elizabethtown Community and Technical CollegeElizabethtown, KY · Close peer54% grad $36,143 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Southern Crescent Technical CollegeGriffin, GA · Close peer55% grad $36,104 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- York Technical CollegeRock Hill, SC · Close peer31% grad $37,257 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeRichmond, VA · Close peer31% grad $39,529 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Virginia Western 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 Virginia Western Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.05, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), 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