Laurel Ridge Community College vs. WCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Laurel Ridge Community College in Middletown, VA with Wytheville Community College in Wytheville, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Laurel Ridge Community College is larger than WCC based on total student enrollment (5,902 students vs. 2,107 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Laurel Ridge Community College is located in Middletown, VA (Rural Fringe setting); Wytheville Community College is in Wytheville, VA (Remote Town setting).
• Laurel Ridge Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Wytheville Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Laurel Ridge Community College 28:1; Wytheville Community College 23:1.

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. WCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Laurel Ridge Community College or WCC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wytheville Community College than Laurel Ridge Community College ($5,331 vs. $6,411).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wytheville Community College are 69.9% lower than at Laurel Ridge Community College ($3,000 vs. $9,970).
• Laurel Ridge Community College is 1.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCC (about $65 more per year; $5,072.00 vs. $5,007.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.6% higher at Laurel Ridge Community College than at Wytheville Community College (about $65 more per year; $11,510.00 vs. $11,445.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wytheville Community College than at Laurel Ridge Community College (94% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wytheville Community College students is 19.1% larger than aid received by Laurel Ridge Community College students ($6,623 vs. $5,563).

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. WCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Laurel Ridge Community College or WCC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WCC and Laurel Ridge Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Laurel Ridge Community College - Open admission; WCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Laurel Ridge Community College Jul 27, 2027; WCC Aug 21, 2027.

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. WCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Laurel Ridge Community College and WCC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Laurel Ridge Community College earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than WCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,600 vs. $30,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Laurel Ridge Community College graduates have a $375 lower median loan debt than WCC graduates ($7,625 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, Laurel Ridge Community College graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WCC graduates ($78 vs. $82).
• More WCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Laurel Ridge Community College students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 43%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.