At $27,538/yr net price, Centura College-Virginia Beach graduates earn $25,930/yr within 10 years of enrollment.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $27,538 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $110,152 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $25,930/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | $-8,070/yr |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 50.0% |
| 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 | $26,894/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $27,943/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $32,123/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 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $30,228 | |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. | Associate | $23,803 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Associate | $22,094 | $23,000 |
| 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 |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services. | Associate | $17,916 | $21,830 |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services. | Certificate | $15,922 | $7,521 |
| Legal Support Services. | Associate | $14,935 |
The Risk Factor
50.0% of students at Centura College-Virginia Beach graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
The financial math at Centura College-Virginia Beach doesn't work for most paths through this school. You pay nearly $27,538 a year, but ten years after enrolling the median graduate earns $25,930 annually. That's below what many high school graduates make, and it means the degree here often fails to lift your income above the cost of getting it.
The one program that pays off is the practical nursing certificate, where graduates clear close to $40,000. In Virginia Beach's healthcare market, that credential has real demand and a clear job at the end. Everything else lags badly. The computer/IT and business administration associate degrees both land under $24,000 in earnings, and business carries the heaviest debt load at $23,000. Paying that much to borrow for a degree that returns roughly the same annual income you owe is a losing trade. The health and dental certificates cost less to finance at $9,500 in debt, which softens the blow, but they still cap out near $21,000 a year.
The specific risk here is the gap between price and payoff on the associate degrees. You take on more debt for a two-year program and come out earning less than the one-year nursing certificate holders. A 50% graduation rate means half of you leave without the credential you borrowed for while still owing the money.
Notice the net price rises as family income climbs, from about $26,894 under $30k to $32,123 in the $48-75k band. Lower-income families don't get meaningfully cheaper tuition here. This school makes financial sense if you commit to the practical nursing certificate and nothing else. For the business and IT tracks, a community college with lower tuition and comparable outcomes is the smarter money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Centura College-Virginia Beach worth the cost?
With average earnings of $25,930 ten years after graduation and an annual cost of $27,538, most graduates earn less than what they pay per year. The nursing program shows better returns at nearly $40,000, but other programs struggle to justify the expense.
What is the job outlook for Centura College-Virginia Beach graduates?
Only 50% of students graduate, and most programs lead to earnings below $25,000 annually. The practical nursing program offers the best prospects with median earnings near $40,000, while business and IT programs typically result in much lower pay.
How much student debt do Centura College-Virginia Beach students have?
The median debt is $14,750, which is manageable compared to many schools. However, with most graduates earning around $26,000 annually, even this lower debt amount can be challenging to repay.
Which programs at Centura College-Virginia Beach have the best ROI?
Practical nursing offers the strongest return with graduates earning nearly $40,000 annually. Business administration and IT programs show poor ROI, with graduates typically earning $22,000-$30,000 despite similar tuition costs.