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Brightpoint Community College

Chester, Virginia · Public community college · Training programs available:

Welding schoolsElectrician schoolsMassage therapy schoolsHVAC schoolsCNC & machining programsEMT & paramedic trainingLPN / LVN programs
38%completion rate · Virginia avg 57%
$9,500median debt of graduates
$35,568median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$41,223median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing | American Board of Funeral Service Education, Committee on Accreditation | Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (Accredited)
Address: 13101 Route 1, Chester, VA 23831 · Phone: (804) 796-4000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.

Brightpoint Community College is a public trade and career school in Chester, Virginia, offering welding, electrician, and massage therapy programs, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Brightpoint's completion rate is 38.3%, below the Virginia average of 57.1%; median graduate debt is $9,500 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $41,223.

Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; Brightpoint participates in federal financial aid (Title IV), and about 22.5% of students receive Pell Grants.

Completion rate vs. benchmarks
Brightpoint Community… Brightpoint Community…: 38.3% 38.3% Virginia average Virginia average: 57.1% 57.1% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers$42,520$59,180$65,400
Electricians$40,780$62,900$78,190
Massage therapists$38,070$62,220$93,600
HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers$39,760$59,730$73,440
Machinists$45,120$61,290$71,470
Emergency medical technicians$36,540$45,420$50,390
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses$50,580$64,920$74,540

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Virginia (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.

Trade programs at this campus

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 300–899 hours 38 not reported not reported not reported
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Associate degree 14 not reported not reported not reported
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 14 not reported not reported not reported
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Certificate, 300–899 hours 11 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 10 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 6 not reported not reported not reported
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 300–899 hours 4 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 3 not reported not reported not reported

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.

Visit the school's website ↗

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About this school

Brightpoint Community College is a public community college in Chester, Virginia, that participates in federal Title IV financial aid programs. Several of its career-training programs carry specialized accreditation, including from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Board of Funeral Service Education, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, and the college as a whole is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Its top trade programs by completions are welding schools (41), electrician schools (14), and massage therapy schools (14), alongside offerings in HVAC, CNC machining, EMT training, and LPN programs.

According to federal data, Brightpoint's overall completion rate is 38.3%, below the Virginia state average of 57.1%. Graduates carry a median debt of $9,500, and median earnings ten years after entry are $41,223. About 22.5% of students receive Pell Grants. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.

This campus serves both short-term trade certificate seekers and those pursuing longer credential paths, given its mix of skilled-trade programs (welding, electrician, HVAC) and clinical/allied-health programs (massage therapy, EMT, LPN) that often accommodate working adults and career changers, though exact program lengths and schedules are not detailed here. Prospective students should confirm current accreditation status, program-specific outcomes, and costs directly with the school or through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.

Questions students ask

What trade and career programs does this campus offer?

Brightpoint offers welding, electrician, massage therapy, HVAC, CNC machining, EMT training, and LPN programs, with welding schools (41 completions), electrician schools (14), and massage therapy schools (14) as its top programs.

Is this school accredited, and by whom?

Yes. Brightpoint is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, with additional program-specific accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Board of Funeral Service Education, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.

Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?

Yes, Brightpoint participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, and about 22.5% of its students receive Pell Grants.

What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?

Brightpoint's completion rate is 38.3%, which is below the Virginia state average of 57.1%.

How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?

Graduates carry a median debt of $9,500, per federal data.

What do graduates of this school earn?

Median earnings ten years after entry are $41,223, according to federal data.

How much does it cost to attend for a year?

Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (804) 796-4000 or visit brightpoint.edu for current tuition.

Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?

Brightpoint is a public community college, which typically means lower tuition and eligibility for state and federal funding compared to for-profit institutions.

How long do the programs here take to complete?

Program length is not reported in the data provided; contact the school directly to confirm program schedules and duration.

How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?

You can verify accreditation status and review federal outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?232450.

Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?

The mix of shorter trade certificates (welding, electrician, HVAC) and allied-health programs (massage therapy, EMT, LPN) may suit adults changing careers, though specific scheduling and format details are not reported here.

What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?

Licensing requirements vary by program and are not detailed in this data; contact Brightpoint directly to learn about certification or licensure steps for a specific program.

How do I contact the school or apply?

You can reach Brightpoint Community College at (804) 796-4000 or through its website, https://www.brightpoint.edu/.

How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?

Comparative data on nearby schools is not included here; use the College Scorecard link to compare completion rates, costs, and earnings across institutions.

Nearby trade and career schools in Virginia

See all trade and career schools in Virginia or search by ZIP code.

Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.

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