Blue Ridge Community College

www.blueridge.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$2,432

2024 Average Net Price

$8,273

After Financial Aid

2024 Enrolled Students

2,723

20.3% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

49.7%

88 Graduates

About

Blue Ridge Community College is a higher education institution located in Henderson County, NC. In 2024, the most popular Associates Degree concentrations at Blue Ridge Community College were Liberal Arts & Sciences (158 degrees awarded), Registered Nursing (40 degrees), and General Business Administration & Management (22 degrees).

In 2024, 782 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Blue Ridge Community College. 61.5% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 38.5% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (588 degrees), 6.13 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (96 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Blue Ridge Community College is $2,432, which is $−5,728 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($8,160).

Associates Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional Associates Colleges

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Blue Ridge Community College is $2,432, which is $5,728 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($8,160).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $8,273.

In 2024, 70% of undergraduate students attending Blue Ridge Community College received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 4% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$2,432

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Blue Ridge Community College was $2,432. The cost of tuition at Blue Ridge Community College is $−5,728 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Associates Colleges ($8,160).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Blue Ridge Community College (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$8,273

2024 Value

11.4%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Blue Ridge Community College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $8,273. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Blue Ridge Community College grew by 11.4%.

This chart compares the average net price of Blue Ridge Community College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Financial Aid by Income Level

70%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

70% of undergraduate students at Blue Ridge Community College received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a decline of 23.1% with respect to 2023, when 91% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Blue Ridge Community College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Enrollment

Blue Ridge Community College had a total enrollment of 2,723 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Blue Ridge Community College is 553 students and the part-time enrollment is 2,170. This means that 20.3% of students enrolled at Blue Ridge Community College are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Blue Ridge Community College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 73.2% White, 16% Hispanic or Latino, 3.56% Black or African American, 1.8% Asian, and 0.551% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Blue Ridge Community College in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (40.7%), followed by White Male (32.8%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (10.2%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

20.3%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Blue Ridge Community College in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 2,723 students. The full-time enrollment at Blue Ridge Community College is 553 and the part-time enrollment is 2,170. This means that 20.3% of students enrolled at Blue Ridge Community College are enrolled full-time compared with 31.9% at similar Associates Colleges.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Blue Ridge Community College (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

70%

2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Blue Ridge Community College was 70%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Associates Colleges (64%), Blue Ridge Community College had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Blue Ridge Community College (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
1,992 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
436 enrolled students
Black or African American
97 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Blue Ridge Community College is 73.2% White, 16% Hispanic or Latino, 3.56% Black or African American, 1.8% Asian, and 0.551% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Associates Colleges is 41.3% White, 28.4% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.2% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 110 students (4.04%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 180 more women than men received degrees from Blue Ridge Community College. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Blue Ridge Community College is white (588 degrees awarded). There were 6.13 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (96 degrees).

The most common Associates Degree concentration at Blue Ridge Community College is Liberal Arts & Sciences (158 degrees awarded), followed by Registered Nursing (40 degrees) and General Business Administration & Management (22 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Blue Ridge Community College, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Precision Production (76 degrees awarded), Language & Linguistics (30 degrees), and Mechanical Technologies (64 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Blue Ridge Community College are Elementary & middle school teachers (129,936 people), Other managers (82,975 people), Secondary school teachers (55,997 people), Postsecondary teachers (48,996 people), and Education administrators (42,783 people).

The most specialized majors at Blue Ridge Community College in 2024 are Precision Production (76 degrees awarded), Language & Linguistics (30 degrees), Mechanical Technologies (64 degrees), Human Sciences (18 degrees), and Liberal Arts & Humanities (163 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Blue Ridge Community College are Surgeons, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Correspondence clerks & order clerks, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, and Physicians

The most specialized majors at Blue Ridge Community College are Precision Production (76 degrees awarded), Language & Linguistics (30 degrees), Mechanical Technologies (64 degrees), Human Sciences (18 degrees), and Liberal Arts & Humanities (163 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Blue Ridge Community College are Elementary & secondary schools (291,981 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (124,031 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (81,872 people), Computer Systems Design (50,159 people), and Construction (44,601 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Blue Ridge Community College.

Most Common (2024)

General Cosmetology
5 degrees awarded
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology
3 degrees awarded
Sign Language Interpretation & Translation
2 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate concentration at Blue Ridge Community College was General Cosmetology with 5 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate programs at Blue Ridge Community College according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

301

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

481

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 301 degrees were awarded to men at Blue Ridge Community College, which is 0.626 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (481).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Blue Ridge Community College by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 55 degrees were awarded to men at Blue Ridge Community College in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 0.534 times less than the 103 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 103 degrees were awarded to men at Blue Ridge Community College in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 1.87 times more than the 55 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

21%

100% Completion Time

38%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 21% of students graduating from Blue Ridge Community College completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 38% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 42% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Associates Colleges Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
588 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
96 degrees awarded
Black or African American
34 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Blue Ridge Community College is white (588 degrees awarded). There were 6.13 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (96 degrees).

4.73% of degree recipients (37 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Female
343 degrees awarded
White Female
327 degrees awarded
White Male
299 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Blue Ridge Community College is white female (343 degrees awarded). There were 1.05 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (327 degrees).

Operations

Blue Ridge Community College has an endowment valued at nearly $16.7M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 90k (0.54%) compared to the 12.8% average return (818k on 6.41M) across all Associates Colleges.

In 2024, Blue Ridge Community College had a total salary expenditure of 36.5M. Blue Ridge Community College employs 76 No academic ranks. Most academics at Blue Ridge Community College are Female No academic rank (41), and Male No academic rank (35).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Blue Ridge Community College are: Management, with 36 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 23 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 15 employees.

Endowment

$16.7M

2024 Endowment

3.83%

growth from 2023

Blue Ridge Community College has an endowment valued at about $16.7M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Blue Ridge Community College grew 3.83% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $10.3M higher than than the median endowment of Associates Colleges according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Blue Ridge Community College (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Associates Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$22.2M

2024 Salaries

20.4%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Blue Ridge Community College paid a median of $22.2M in salaries, which represents 61% of their overall expenditure ($36.5M) and a 20.4% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 11.5% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 5.09% decline between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$5.1M

Instructional Salaries

Number of Employees

In 2024, Blue Ridge Community College paid a total of $5.1M to 76 employees working as instructors, which represents 22.9% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $720k (4.04%) for similar Associates Colleges.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Blue Ridge Community College were Management with 36 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 23 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 15 employees.

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