Public Associate Strong 71/100

Laurel Ridge Community College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Middletown, Virginia

About Laurel Ridge Community College

Laurel Ridge Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Middletown, Virginia. It enrolls 3,195 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
26.6%
Net Price
$6,013
Median Earnings (10yr)
$41,000
Enrollment
3,195
Student : Faculty
27:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 53
Value 82
Affordability 44
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Laurel Ridge Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Laurel Ridge Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $6,013 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$6,013
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
18%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
2%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$5,072
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,510
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,970
Books & Supplies
$1,470
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,420
Total Cost of Attendance
$12,110

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $4,521
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $5,614
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $6,467
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $7,386
  • Over $110,000
    $10,827

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,500
10% percentile
$2,750
25% percentile
$9,750
Median percentile
$10,500
75% percentile
$19,000
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $7,226 ↓ $2,524
No Pell $5,500 ↓ $4,250
Dependent students $5,500 ↓ $4,250
Independent students $9,500 ↓ $250
Female students $6,000 ↓ $3,750
Male students $5,850 ↓ $3,900
Pell recipients: 18.3% (1,780 students)No Pell: 13.9% (1,355 students)Dependent students: 13.9% (1,355 students)Independent students: 24.0% (2,340 students)Female students: 15.2% (1,478 students)Male students: 14.8% (1,441 students)Overall Median$9,750
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($9,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

27% of full-time students who enrolled at Laurel Ridge Community College graduate within six years, and 69% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
27%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
69%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Laurel Ridge Community College earn a median of $41,000 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$41,000
Earning > $25K
67%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$36,000$37,000$39,000$40,000$42,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$32,800

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$37,700

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

What this means: Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$6.8 of median earnings 10 years out.

Who Studies Here

Laurel Ridge Community College is home to 3,195 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students, 63% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
3,195
Part-Time
63%
First-Generation
51%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 61.8% 1,974
Hispanic 18.5% 592
Black 6.5% 208
Other 5.1% 164
Asian 2.3% 73
International 1.5% 48
White: 61.8% (1,974 students)Hispanic: 18.5% (592 students)Black: 6.5% (208 students)Other: 5.1% (164 students)Asian: 2.3% (73 students)International: 1.5% (48 students)Total3,195

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Laurel Ridge Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Rural: Fringe Middletown, Virginia
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
17% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Laurel Ridge Community College offers a varied set of programs: 21 distinct programs across 10 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

2 Programs
7 Programs
2 Programs
2 Programs
1 Program
2 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Laurel Ridge Community College is 27:1, high (larger classes are common).

Student : Faculty
27:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,854
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$8.5M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$70,200
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

67 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 16 24% $80,845
Associate Professors 14 21% $74,106
Assistant Professors 25 37% $67,161
Instructors 9 13% $61,176
Lecturers 3 4% $47,599

Pros & Cons of Laurel Ridge Community College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Laurel Ridge Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Open admissions
  • Low typical debt at graduation
  • First-gen-friendly student body
  • Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
  • Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for: Based on the data, Laurel Ridge Community College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about Laurel Ridge Community College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Laurel Ridge Community College.

Is Laurel Ridge Community College hard to get into?
Laurel Ridge Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Laurel Ridge Community College?
Laurel Ridge Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Laurel Ridge Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Laurel Ridge Community College is $6,013 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Laurel Ridge Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $41,000 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,013 per year. That's roughly 6.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Laurel Ridge Community College known for?
Laurel Ridge Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Laurel Ridge Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Laurel Ridge Community College are $41,000, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Laurel Ridge Community College accredited?
Yes. Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Laurel Ridge Community College?
Laurel Ridge Community College enrolls 3,195 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Laurel Ridge Community College?
Laurel Ridge Community College graduates 27% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Laurel Ridge Community College a public or private college?
Laurel Ridge Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Laurel Ridge Community College located?
Laurel Ridge Community College is located in Middletown, Virginia.
What programs does Laurel Ridge Community College offer?
Laurel Ridge Community College offers 21 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Laurel Ridge Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Laurel Ridge Community College is 27:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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