Going the Community College Route at NOVA

More than 40 percent of US undergraduate students attend community college. Although community colleges certainly attract working adults and retirees, students between the ages of 18 and 24 make up the largest age group currently enrolled in programs around the nation.

The Washington metropolitan area is home to a number of truly excellent community colleges offering fantastic technical training opportunities as well as programs designed to prepare students for transfer to four-year undergraduate colleges and universities.

Answering an increasing demand among local high school students seeking alternatives to more expensive postsecondary options, the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) continues to grow and add programs relevant to today’s workforce.

Here are a few facts that may surprise you about NOVA:

• NOVA is the largest college in Virginia with 78,000 students in credit classes.


• 20 percent of local public high school graduates attend NOVA.


• Of all the northern Virginia residents attending a college or university, 40 percent chose NOVA.


• With 47 percent minority enrollment, NOVA is one of the nation’s most ethnically diverse institutions of higher education.


• NOVA is the region’s largest producer of nurses, healthcare workers, and first responders.


• More than 20,000 students annually participate in NOVA’s continuing education and workforce development programs.


• Over 8,000 students annually enroll in NOVA’s distance learning programs making it one of the largest in the country.


• NOVA now has six campuses and three “centers.”


• Low tuition and generous financial aid ($77 million last year) make NOVA a highly affordable option.

Don't forget about the many advantages of going the community college route. To learn more about NOVA in specific, visit http://www.nvcc.edu/.