At $26,719/yr net price, Centura College-Norfolk graduates earn $25,930/yr within 10 years of enrollment.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $26,719 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $106,876 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $25,930/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | $-8,070/yr |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 62.9% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $14,750 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $25,954/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $26,966/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $26,092/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $31,208/yr |
| $110,001+ | $32,531/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. | Certificate | $39,986 | |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Certificate | $21,679 | $9,500 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | Certificate | $21,234 | $9,500 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Associate | $21,019 | $22,000 |
The Risk Factor
62.9% of students at Centura College-Norfolk graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 37% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
The financial return at Centura College-Norfolk is weak, and the core problem is simple: you pay $26,719 a year and typical graduates earn under $26,000 a decade later. That earnings figure sits below what many high school graduates make, so the degree does not buy you much of an income bump for the price you paid.
Your program choice decides everything here. Practical Nursing is the one path that pays off, landing graduates around $39,986 a year , nearly double what the medical administrative and dental support tracks return. Those non-nursing certificates leave you near $21,000, barely above where you started, which makes the tuition hard to justify. Worse, the associate degree in Health and Medical Administrative Services pays about the same $21,000 as its certificate version but saddles you with roughly $22,000 in debt instead of $9,500. Paying more for the same paycheck is a bad trade.
The specific risk at this school is borrowing for a program that does not raise your earnings. Median debt of $14,750 is manageable only if your income clears it, and outside nursing, it often won't. The 62.90% graduation rate also means a real share of you leave with debt and no credential.
Notice the net price barely drops for lower-income families , you pay about $25,954 under $30k, close to what everyone else pays. There is no meaningful discount tier here, so families at every income level carry a similar burden.
This school makes financial sense if you enroll in Practical Nursing and finish. If you are considering the medical administrative or dental certificates, or the associate version, look at cheaper community college options that lead to the same jobs for far less debt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Centura College-Norfolk worth the cost?
Centura College-Norfolk has poor ROI with graduates earning $25,930 ten years after enrollment while paying $26,719 annually. The nursing programs show better returns at around $40,000, but other health programs barely reach $21,000 in median earnings.
What programs at Centura College-Norfolk have the best job prospects?
Practical nursing offers the strongest earning potential at nearly $40,000 annually. Health administration and dental support programs show much lower returns around $21,000, making them questionable investments given the school's cost.
How much debt do Centura College-Norfolk graduates typically have?
The median debt is $14,750, which is manageable compared to many schools. However, with overall graduate earnings of just $25,930, even this modest debt load creates financial strain for most programs outside of nursing.
What is the graduation rate at Centura College-Norfolk?
Centura College-Norfolk has a 62.9% graduation rate. This means more than one in three students don't complete their programs, adding significant risk to an already questionable financial investment for most career paths offered.