Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) vs Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC)
Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) and Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) stand out as two prominent community colleges in their respective regions, offering diverse academic programs and opportunities for students. While both institutions share a commitment to providing accessible and affordable education, they differ in several key aspects. CPCC boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students, while NOVA's lower acceptance rate indicates a more selective admissions process. In terms of student demographics, CPCC has a larger student body with a higher percentage of female students, while NOVA has a more diverse student population. As for popular majors, CPCC offers a wider range of programs in health professions and technologies, while NOVA excels in business, engineering, and computer science. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions between these two esteemed community colleges and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic goals and preferences.
|
![]() Central Piedmont Community College |
![]() Northern Virginia Community College |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Charlotte, North Carolina | Annandale, Virginia |
Campus setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 2 year | 2 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 57.0% | 69.0% |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | Open Admission | Open Admission |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | ||
Total number of admissions given out | ||
Admitted students who chose to enroll | ||
Yield rate | ||
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | Not required | Not required |
High school GPA | N/A | N/A |
Recommendation letters | N/A | N/A |
High school transcript | N/A | N/A |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | N/A | N/A |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price |
In state:
$20,010
Out of state:
$26,154
|
In state:
$23,961
Out of state:
$30,044
|
Average net price | $6,600 | $9,627 |
Tuition |
In state:
$2,432
Out of state:
$8,576
|
In state:
$5,412
Out of state:
$10,790
|
Room & board | ||
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
60.0%
Average amount $5,734 |
53.0%
Average amount $6,083 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
18.0%
Average amount $4,754 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $6,499 |
0.0%
Average amount $7,370 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
17,208
Men 40.7% Women 59.3% |
49,560
Men 46.7% Women 53.3% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 1.9% | 1.5% |
International students | 4.4% | 2.5% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | N/A | N/A |
First year students are required to live on campus? | N/A | N/A |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | North Carolina South Carolina New York Alabama New Jersey | Virginia Maryland District of Columbia West Virginia North Carolina |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 16:1 | 28:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 22.0% | 32.9% |
Dropout rate | 33.9% | 36.7% |
Transferred out | 32.9% | 15.4% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Associate's Degrees)
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
Marketing (Associate's Degrees)
Legal Support Services (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Human Resources Management and Services (Associate's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
Legal Support Services (Associate's Degrees)
|
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
Computer Science (Associate's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Associate's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Associate's Degrees)
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate's Degrees)
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.

































































































































































