Virginia Western Community College

What Virginia Western Community College does

Virginia Western Community College (VWCC) is a public, open-access community college founded in 1966 and located on Colonial Avenue in Roanoke, Virginia. It operates under the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and serves the Roanoke Valley region. The college delivers associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training across four academic schools — Business, Technology & Trades (BTT); Health Professions (HP); Liberal Arts & Social Sciences (LASS); and Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) — plus a Workforce Solutions division for customized corporate training. Programmatic anchors include the Mechatronics program and Fab Lab, the recently launched agriculture technology training pathway featuring hydroponic systems, a Center for Cybersecurity Education, a redesigned Associate of Applied Science in IST: Data Analytics & Programming Solutions, and a Grow-Our-Own Medical Assistant-Certified program operated jointly with Carilion Clinic and the Greater Roanoke Workforce Development Board.

The technology stack combines the Canvas learning management system for online delivery with a Student Information System, hands-on equipment for mechatronics, advanced manufacturing, and agriculture technology training, and operational tools such as an Everbridge-powered mass notification system and a 24/7 student support center. VWCC participates in the Roanoke Higher Education Center alongside Virginia Tech and the Appalachian College of Pharmacy, and has formalized a two-plus-two transfer articulation with Radford University covering information science and systems, with an optional one-year online MBA extension.

Revenue is sourced from state appropriations, student tuition and fees, federal grants (including NSF Advanced Technological Education awards and prior COVID-era CARES, CRRSAA, and ARP student emergency aid disbursements), and employer-sponsored training contracts. The institution emphasizes accessible pricing, with average annual tuition approximately $9,079 lower than at four-year Virginia colleges, and promotes no-cost college pathways through programs such as CCAP. Customer segments span traditional recent-high-school graduates, adult learners, dual-enrolled high school students, workforce-development candidates, and regional employers. Marketing and outreach extend across a multi-channel footprint including the institutional website, social platforms (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, BlueSky, Reddit), campus tours and orientation events, employer and high school partnerships, and email/notification systems. Per the most recent reporting, 86% of reporting graduates are employed full-time with an average annual salary of $43,744.

Name

Virginia Western Community College

Legal name

Virginia Western Community College

Website

https://virginiawestern.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Virginia Western Community College is a public community college in Roanoke, Virginia, operating under the Virginia Community College System. It delivers associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training in healthcare, manufacturing, mechatronics, agriculture technology, and cybersecurity to traditional students, adult learners, dual-enrolled high schoolers, and regional employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (611210)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Workforce training
• Transfer pathways
• Technical education

Headquarters

HQ city

Roanoke

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Public community college funded by state appropriations, student tuition, and federal grants. Tuition-free college programs available through CCAP and other assistance.
2. Federal Emergency Relief Funding: CARES Act, CRRSAA, and ARP emergency financial aid grants disbursed to students for COVID-19 related expenses. VWCC received $2,763,297 CARES, $1,381,649 CRRSAA, and ARP funds for student emergency grants.
3. NSF ATE Grant Funding: National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education program grants supporting workforce training program development at community colleges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Virginia Western Community College is a public community college that delivers associate degree programs, certificate programs, and workforce training across healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture technology, information systems, mechatronics, and liberal arts. It serves traditional students, adult learners, high school dual enrollment students, and regional employers through on-campus instruction, online learning via Canvas LMS, and customized corporate training through its Workforce Solutions division.

Product overview

Virginia Western Community College is an open-access community college offering career and technical programs in education, healthcare, public service & safety, mechatronics, and logistics/transportation. The institution provides academic degree programs (Associate degrees and pathways to bachelor's degrees through transfer agreements), workforce training programs (including the Mechatronics Program with Fab Lab, Agriculture Technology Training Pathway, and Healthcare programs), online learning through Canvas LMS, specialized centers (Center for Cybersecurity Education), and student support services (24/7 Student Support Center, TRIO, Hall Career Center). Programs are organized into academic schools: Business, Technology & Trades (BTT); Health Professions (HP); Liberal Arts & Social Sciences (LASS); and Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM), plus Workforce Solutions for corporate training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Associate of Applied Science in IST: Data Analytics & Programming Solutions Two-year associate degree program in data analytics and programming solutions, built in partnership with Radford University as a 'two-plus-two' pathway so students can complete a bachelor's degree in Information Science and Systems in four total years. Designed for students seeking careers in information technology with an AI-aware curriculum.
• Agriculture Technology Training Pathway Virginia's first agriculture technology training pathway, featuring hydroponic systems and mechatronics integration, developed through NSF ATE grant funding. Targets workforce development candidates seeking technical skills for in-demand careers in agriculture technology.
• Grow-Our-Own Medical Assistant-Certified (MA-C) Program Healthcare workforce partnership program with Carilion Clinic and the Greater Roanoke Workforce Development Board that trains students for medical assistant careers. Recognized with the Virginia Workforce Association Talent Champion Award. Designed to address healthcare workforce shortages in the Roanoke Valley.
• Mechatronics Program and Fab Lab Manufacturing and technology training facility featuring advanced manufacturing technologies, AI integration, data-driven processes, and fabrication capabilities. Showcased during the Virginia Smart Manufacturing Association Roadshow. Targets students pursuing careers in smart manufacturing and mechatronics.
• Center for Cybersecurity Education at VWCC Cybersecurity education center offering competitions, events, CS Club, cyber careers guidance, faculty resources, and the CS Scholars Lecture Series. Designed for students pursuing careers in cybersecurity and computer science.
• Workforce Solutions / Corporate Training Customized workforce training service for regional employers in healthcare, manufacturing, and technical fields. Delivers employer-sponsored training and tailored workforce solutions addressing local skills shortages and pipeline development needs.
• Virginia Western Online Canvas-based online learning platform providing remote students with 24/7 access to courses. Includes online readiness assessments, computer access expectations, and the Virginia Western Teaching Online Certification program for faculty.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% of reporting VWCC graduates employed full-time with average annual salary of $43,744
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Radford UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026True two-plus-two program enabling students to earn Associate of Applied Science in IST: Data Analytics & Programming Solutions at VWCC, then transfer to complete Radford's Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Systems in four total years. Radford's program also offers a one-year online MBA option.
• Carilion CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Healthcare workforce partnership through Grow-Our-Own Medical Assistant-Certified (MA-C) Program, recipient of Virginia Workforce Association Talent Champion Award. VWCC and Greater Roanoke Workforce Development Board collaborate with Carilion Clinic to operate the program.
• Virginia TechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for expanded educational and workforce development programs at the Roanoke Higher Education Center, addressing regional labor market demands.
• Appalachian College of PharmacyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership at Roanoke Higher Education Center for pharmacy education programs addressing local healthcare job shortages.
• Virginia Smart Manufacturing AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of Smart Manufacturing Association Roadshow at VWCC featuring AI integration, data-driven processes, and advanced manufacturing technology demonstrations. VWCC showcased Mechatronics program and Fab Lab during the event.
• GenEdgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional workforce development partner co-hosting the Virginia Smart Manufacturing Association Roadshow at Virginia Western Community College.
• Greater Roanoke Workforce Development BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Virginia Western and Carilion Clinic to operate the Grow-Our-Own Medical Assistant-Certified program addressing healthcare workforce needs in the Roanoke Valley.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Northern Virginia Community College: Largest VCCS college and the most direct peer to Virginia Western; offers associate degrees, transfer pathways, and workforce training to a comparable set of student segments (traditional, adult, dual enrollment) under the same state system.
• Tidewater Community College: Another large VCCS community college offering associate degrees, transfer programs, and workforce solutions across multiple campuses; directly comparable on mission, funding model, and program mix.
• J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College: VCCS peer in Richmond offering associate degrees, workforce training, and transfer pathways; serves a similar urban/suburban regional population with comparable program portfolio.
• New River Community College: VCCS community college serving a similar southwestern Virginia region; offers comparable associate degrees, workforce programs, and dual-enrollment partnerships.
• Piedmont Virginia Community College: VCCS community college with similar academic divisions, workforce solutions, and transfer pathways; comparable size and program mix to Virginia Western.
• Central Virginia Community College: VCCS peer offering associate degrees and technical training with similar workforce development focus; directly comparable on funding model and program structure.
• John Tyler Community College: VCCS community college providing associate degrees, transfer pathways, and workforce training; directly comparable mission and student segments to Virginia Western.
• Lord Fairfax Community College: VCCS peer in the Shenandoah Valley offering similar associate degree, transfer, and workforce training programs to a comparable regional student base.
• Southside Virginia Community College: VCCS community college with comparable associate degrees and workforce programs; similar mission serving a regional Virginia population.
• Thomas Nelson Community College: VCCS community college in Hampton Roads offering associate degrees, transfer pathways, and workforce training; directly comparable scope and program portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VirginiaWestern
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/VirginiaWestern
• Facebookfacebook.com/20446006533
• Instagraminstagram.com/virginiawestern
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/virginia-western-community-college

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Virginia Western Community College