Do Students Succeed at Virginia Western Community College?
A data-driven look at student outcomes at Virginia Western Community College — completion rates, transfers, and enrollment status.
Student Success at Virginia Western Community College at a Glance
Virginia Western Community College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Roanoke, VA. Current enrollment is 6,332 students.
- 40.1% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 34.1% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 67% of exiters from its largest program (Commercial Driver's License) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $11,903 per quarter after exiting Commercial Driver's License
- 1,298 graduates across 67 programs in 2024
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 213 students used them here
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for Virginia Western Community College programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Driver's License | 95% | 67% | 66% | $11,903 |
| Nursing | 100% | 83% | — | $20,848 |
| Clinical Medical Assistant | 93% | 70% | 75% | $6,572 |
| Welding and Metal Processing CSC | 100% | 56% | 68% | $11,566 |
| Residential Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Career Studies Certificate | 100% | 66% | 83% | $9,215 |
| Electrical Wiring | 100% | 64% | 70% | $10,216 |
| Automotive Analysis and Repair | 100% | 50% | 71% | $6,356 |
| Mechatronics Systems Engineering Technology | 100% | 75% | — | $17,537 |
| Mechatronics Systems Engineering Technology/Electrical Engineering Technology Sp | 100% | 43% | — | $12,997 |
| Phlebotomy CSC | 100% | — | — | — |
| Health Records Coding Career Studies Certificate | 100% | — | 43% | — |
| HIM: Medical Billing | 100% | — | — | — |
| Certified Phlebotomy Techician (Credit) | 100% | 41% | 52% | $7,086 |
| IT Cyber Security CSC | 100% | 60% | — | $16,033 |
| Horticulture Technology | 100% | 64% | — | $3,590 |
| SHRM Certification Prep Course | 100% | 94% | — | $19,011 |
| Construction Management | 100% | 43% | — | $15,848 |
| Project Management Professional Certification | 95% | 93% | 90% | $17,529 |
| Machining Fundamentals | 100% | 88% | 80% | $13,001 |
| Machining- Milling Operator | 100% | 45% | — | $19,253 |
| Medical Laboratory Technology, AAS | 100% | — | 100% | — |
| Building Trades Technology | 100% | — | — | — |
| Machining-Turning Operator | 100% | 67% | — | $19,573 |
| Welding-GMAW-American Welding Society Qualification | 100% | 71% | 69% | $7,628 |
| Machining-Advanced | 100% | 71% | 71% | $18,090 |
| HIM: Medical Office Specialist | 100% | — | — | — |
| Medical Office & Billing Support | 100% | — | — | — |
| Welding-FCAW-American Welding Society Qualification | 100% | — | 71% | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at Virginia Western Community College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Virginia Western Community College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
34.1%
Working Student Success
37.8%
Transfer Out Rate
16.7%
Still Enrolled Rate
1.5%
How Virginia Western Community College Compares
34% completion at Virginia Western Community College is mid-pack for the trade-school landscape. The 17% transfer-out rate adds important context — many trade students intentionally use their first credential as a stepping stone to a four-year school, so transfer often signals success rather than dropout.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Virginia Western Community College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Virginia Western Community College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 45.3% indicates strong student success pathways.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at Virginia Western Community College?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
First-time and transfer students achieve similar completion rates, indicating equitable support regardless of entry pathway.
Combined 18.0% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at Virginia Western Community College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Notably, part-time students have a higher success rate here (37.8% vs 30.4% for full-time), which is great news if you plan to work while studying. This pattern is common at trade colleges where programs are designed to accommodate working adults. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Virginia Western Community College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 1,769 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time First-time Students
All First-time Transfer Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Students
All Part-time Students
Full-time First-time Students
Part-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.