Virginia Highlands Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Abingdon, Virginia. It enrolls 1,349 students (a small, tight-knit 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.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
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.
Good
70/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes35
Value76
Affordability72
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Virginia Highlands 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 Virginia Highlands 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 $5,375 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$5,375
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
43%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
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)
$5,022
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,460
Room & Board (off-campus)
$4,150
Books & Supplies
$1,800
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,567
Total Cost of Attendance
$12,955
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
$4,927
$30,001 – $48,000
$5,078
$48,001 – $75,000
$6,189
$75,001 – $110,000
$7,489
Over $110,000
$8,843
What this means:
Aid reaches a meaningful share of the student body: 43% of students receive Pell grants. If your family qualifies for Pell, the real cost to you could be substantially lower than the average.
Graduation Rate & Retention
24% of full-time students who enrolled at Virginia Highlands Community College graduate within six years, and 61% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
24%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
61%
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 Virginia Highlands Community College earn a median of $32,681 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$32,681
Earning > $25K
56%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
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
$25,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$33,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,700, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$6.1 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Virginia Highlands Community College is home to 1,349 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 50% are first-generation college students, 59% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
1,349
Part-Time
59%
First-Generation
50%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 87.8%1,185
Hispanic 3.6%48
Black 3.5%47
Other 2.8%38
Asian 0.8%11
International 0.2%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Virginia Highlands Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small SuburbAbingdon, Virginia
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
24%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Virginia Highlands Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
23 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Virginia Highlands Community College is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,773
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$2.7M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,056
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
38 instructional faculty across 4 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
6
16%
$72,278
Associate Professors
16
42%
$71,280
Assistant Professors
10
26%
$65,808
Instructors
6
16%
$58,983
Pros & Cons of Virginia Highlands Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Virginia Highlands 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
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, Virginia Highlands 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 Virginia Highlands Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Virginia Highlands Community College.
Is Virginia Highlands Community College hard to get into?
Virginia Highlands Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Virginia Highlands Community College?
Virginia Highlands Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Virginia Highlands Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Virginia Highlands Community College is $5,375 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Virginia Highlands Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $32,681 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,375 per year. That's roughly 6.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Virginia Highlands Community College known for?
Virginia Highlands Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Virginia Highlands Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Virginia Highlands Community College are $32,681, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Virginia Highlands Community College accredited?
Yes. Virginia Highlands Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Virginia Highlands Community College?
Virginia Highlands Community College enrolls 1,349 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Virginia Highlands Community College?
Virginia Highlands Community College graduates 24% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Virginia Highlands Community College a public or private college?
Virginia Highlands Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Virginia Highlands Community College located?
Virginia Highlands Community College is located in Abingdon, Virginia.
What programs does Virginia Highlands Community College offer?
Virginia Highlands Community College offers 23 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Virginia Highlands Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Virginia Highlands Community College is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Virginia
Other colleges in Virginia share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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