Career Training Path

Career Training PathVirginia › Tidewater Community College

Tidewater Community College

Norfolk, Virginia · Public

Auto mechanic schoolsElectrician schoolsMedical assistant programsEMT & paramedic trainingWelding schoolsRadiology & sonography programsCulinary & pastry schoolsDiesel mechanic schoolsMedical billing & coding programsHVAC schoolsLPN / LVN programsCNC & machining programs
32%completion rate · Virginia avg 57%
$10,000median debt of graduates
$32,700median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$38,349median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (Accredited)
Address: 121 College Place, Norfolk, VA 23510 · Phone: (757) 822-1111 · 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.
Completion rate vs. benchmarks
Tidewater Community C… Tidewater Community C…: 31.7% 31.7% 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)
Automotive service technicians and mechanics$36,540$59,330$76,540
Electricians$40,780$62,900$78,190
Medical assistants$37,090$44,740$46,570
Emergency medical technicians$36,540$45,420$50,390
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers$42,520$59,180$65,400
Radiologic technologists and technicians$60,000$80,670$95,870
Chefs and head cooks$43,010$63,270$77,270
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists$45,250$61,090$70,460
Medical records specialists$37,630$53,290$64,950
HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers$39,760$59,730$73,440
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses$50,580$64,920$74,540
Machinists$45,120$61,290$71,470

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
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 300–899 hours 259 not reported not reported $5,841
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Certificate, 300–899 hours 45 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 300–899 hours 35 $35,934 $26,896 $7,500
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Associate degree 33 $44,245 $46,282 $9,650
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 29 $49,656 $50,439 $10,450
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Certificate, 300–899 hours 27 $29,693 $23,456 $7,225
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Associate degree 21 $44,245 $46,282 $9,650
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 21 $42,438 $32,925 $7,000
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 19 $49,656 $50,439 $10,450
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Associate degree 17 not reported not reported not reported
Health and Medical Administrative Services Associate degree 16 $28,813 $36,668 not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 300–899 hours 15 not reported not reported $5,841
Culinary Arts and Related Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 14 not reported not reported $16,000
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 12 $49,656 $50,439 $10,450
Culinary Arts and Related Services Associate degree 10 $23,264 $19,227 $16,637
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 10 $35,934 $26,896 $7,500
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 10 $42,438 $32,925 $7,000
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Associate degree 9 not reported not reported not reported
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 300–899 hours 8 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 300–899 hours 7 not reported not reported $5,841
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Certificate, 1–2 years 4 not reported not reported not reported
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Certificate, 1–2 years 4 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 300–899 hours 3 $35,934 $26,896 $7,500
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Certificate, 300–899 hours 2 $29,693 $23,456 $7,225

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 ↗

The Path
Lineworkers earn $95k. Dental hygienists $98k. Barbers $38k.
The federal numbers on every trade, technical and healthcare career, in a free weekly newsletter.
Subscribe →

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.

The Path
Nine months to a paycheck that AI can't take.
A free weekly newsletter for people choosing a hands-on career: trades, technical and healthcare.
Subscribe →