Is Surry Community College Worth It?

Surry Community College gives you a low-cost entry point with a payoff that depends almost entirely on which program you pick. At under $5,000 a year in net price, your total out-of-pocket for a two-year associate stays low. But the median graduate earns about $36,000 a decade out, so the return is modest and heavily tied to your field.

Nursing is the clear standout here. Registered Nursing graduates earn roughly $50,000, nearly double what liberal arts and general studies graduates make at around $18,000. That gap is the most important number at this school. If you enroll in the nursing track and finish, the math works strongly in your favor against the low tuition. The allied health, medical assisting, and business associate programs land in the high $20,000s, which clears your cost but leaves you closer to break-even than ahead.

The biggest financial risk is finishing at all. The graduation rate sits at 7.7%, so most people who start here don't complete on schedule. Paying tuition and taking time off work without a credential is the real way to lose money at Surry, more so than the sticker price. General studies is the weakest bet: low earnings and a common landing spot if you're unsure of your direction.

Net price barely moves across income brackets, running between about $4,200 and $6,500. Families earning under $48,000 actually pay the least, so lower-income families get the best deal here. If you're set on nursing or another health credential and you're confident you'll finish, this is a good financial fit. If you're undecided and likely to land in general studies, the earnings don't justify the time, and you should look at a program with a clearer job at the end.