At $8,838/yr net price, Southwest Virginia Community College graduates earn $34,221/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $221/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $8,838 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $35,352 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $34,221/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$221/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 160 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 43.8% |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $8,660/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,621/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,655/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $8,936/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $55,151 | |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Associate | $41,937 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $38,289 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Associate | $28,792 | |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. | Certificate | $20,596 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate | $16,345 |
The Risk Factor
43.8% of students at Southwest Virginia Community College 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
Southwest Virginia Community College gives you a low-cost path with one clear winner and several weak options. At $8,838 a year, the sticker is modest, but the median earnings ten years out land near $34,000, which tells you the return depends heavily on which program you pick.
Nursing is the reason to come here. The associate nursing track pays roughly $55,000, about $13,000 more than the next-best health program and nearly double what criminal justice graduates earn. If you finish that degree and stay in the regional healthcare workforce, the math works strongly in your favor. The allied health and medical assisting programs, in the low $40,000s, also clear the school's median and justify their cost.
Below that, the returns get thin. Criminal justice graduates earn under $29,000, and the mental and social health certificate comes in around $20,000, which is below what many jobs pay without any credential at all. Spending two years and tuition to land there is a poor trade. Pick these only if the specific job you want requires the credential.
The main risk here is completion. Fewer than half of students finish, so you carry the net price and lost work time with a real chance of leaving without a degree. The programs that pay off are the harder ones to complete, which raises the stakes on nursing especially.
Net price barely moves across income levels here, sitting between about $8,600 and $9,700 whether your family earns under $30,000 or over $75,000. Lower-income families do not get a meaningfully cheaper deal, so budget for the full amount regardless of income.
This school fits you if you are committed to nursing or allied health and plan to work locally. Look elsewhere if you want criminal justice or the social health certificate as your endpoint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Southwest Virginia Community College worth the money?
At $8,838 per year with graduates earning $34,221 after 10 years, Southwest Virginia Community College offers decent value for a two-year degree. The nursing programs significantly outperform this average, with RN graduates earning over $55,000, making those tracks worthwhile investments.
What are the best paying programs at Southwest Virginia Community College?
Registered Nursing leads with graduates earning $55,151 annually, followed by Allied Health and Medical Assisting at $41,937. Criminal Justice graduates earn much less at $28,792, while Mental Health Services programs show the weakest returns at $20,596.
How much debt do Southwest Virginia Community College graduates have?
With a net price of $8,838 annually, total debt for a two-year program would be around $17,676 if fully financed. This is manageable debt for nursing graduates but could be problematic for those in lower-paying fields like mental health services.
What is the graduation rate at Southwest Virginia Community College?
Only 43.8% of students graduate from Southwest Virginia Community College. This below-average completion rate means over half of students leave without finishing their programs, increasing the risk of debt without credentials.