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Laurel Ridge Community College vs Virginia Western Community College

CERT programs compared — side-by-side on NCLEX pass rates, tuition, admissions, and format.

Updated Reviewed by NurseWay Editorial Team

At a glance

Lower tuition
Laurel Ridge Community College
$4,928 vs $5,256

Side-by-side details

Best value in each row is highlighted.

Laurel Ridge Community College
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.
Virginia Western Community College
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Program typeCERTCERT
Formatin personin person
LocationMiddletown, VARoanoke, VA
Length12 months12 months
NCLEX pass rate100%
Acceptance rate
Avg accepted GPA
Min GPA
Entrance exam
Total tuition$4,928 in / $10,931 outBEST$5,256 in / $11,259 out
In-state tuition$4,928BEST$5,256
Out-of-state tuition$10,931BEST$11,259
Clinical placement
AccreditationSCORECARD_BASELINESCORECARD_BASELINE

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Laurel Ridge Community College or Virginia Western Community College?

Laurel Ridge Community College is the more affordable option at roughly $4,928, compared to $5,256. Factor in residency status, financial aid, and program length when deciding — total cost matters more than annual tuition.

Are Laurel Ridge Community College and Virginia Western Community College the same type of program?

Both are CERT programs, so they award the same credential. Compare them on NCLEX pass rate, tuition, length, and location to find the better fit.

How do I decide between Laurel Ridge Community College and Virginia Western Community College?

Start by ruling out programs you can't get into (compare your GPA against each school's admissions stats), then weight what matters most — NCLEX pass rate for quality, total tuition for cost, length for time-to-degree, and format (online, hybrid, in-person) for lifestyle. Use NurseWay's free intake to get a personalized fit score for both.

Want a personalized fit score?

Take the free 3-minute intake and we'll rank both programs against your GPA, location preferences, and budget.