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Virginia Highlands Community College
Abingdon, Virginia · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 100 VHCC Drive, Abingdon, VA 24212 · Phone: (276) 739-2400 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Virginia Highlands Community College is a public trade and career school in Abingdon, VA offering electrician, welding, and HVAC programs, accredited by SACS.
Virginia Highlands Community College has a 40.1% completion rate, below the Virginia state average of 57.1%, and median earnings of $32,681 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Virginia Highlands Community College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, is accepted, and 43.4% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | $40,780 | $62,900 | $78,190 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $42,520 | $59,180 | $65,400 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $39,760 | $59,730 | $73,440 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $50,580 | $64,920 | $74,540 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $45,250 | $61,090 | $70,460 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $36,540 | $45,420 | $50,390 |
| Machinists | $45,120 | $61,290 | $71,470 |
| Medical records specialists | $37,630 | $53,290 | $64,950 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $60,000 | $80,670 | $95,870 |
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
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 41 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 37 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 20 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Associate degree | 18 | not reported | $37,568 | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 1–2 years | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 10 | $24,704 | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Associate degree | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 2 | 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.
About this school
Virginia Highlands Community College is a public community college in Abingdon, Virginia, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and, for its nursing programs, by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Because it is a Title IV institution, students here can use federal financial aid such as FAFSA and Pell Grants. The campus offers 14 program families in trade and career fields, with the largest enrollments in electrician schools, welding schools, and HVAC schools, alongside programs in LPN, diesel mechanics, EMT training, CNC machining, medical billing and coding, and radiology technology.
Federal data show a completion rate of 40.1%, which is below the Virginia state average of 57.1%. Median debt for graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $32,681. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 43.4% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of the student body qualifies for need-based aid.
This campus may suit students seeking shorter, hands-on trade credentials as well as those pursuing associate-level career programs, given the breadth of program families offered, from electrical and welding to healthcare-support fields. Career changers should weigh the below-average completion rate against their own circumstances. Prospective students can verify accreditation status and outcome data directly through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard or by contacting the school.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Virginia Highlands Community College offers 14 program families, with the largest being electrician schools (65), welding schools (41), and HVAC schools (28), plus LPN, diesel mechanic, EMT, CNC machining, medical billing and coding, and radiology tech programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, with nursing programs also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this is a Title IV institution, so students can use federal financial aid including FAFSA and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 40.1%, which is below the Virginia state average of 57.1%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data; check the College Scorecard link or contact the school directly.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $32,681, 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 (276) 739-2400 or visit vhcc.edu for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public community college, which typically means lower published tuition rates and eligibility for state funding, though specific tuition figures aren't reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported in the provided data; contact the school directly to ask about specific program durations.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation and outcomes through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?233903 or by contacting the school.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The school offers a range of hands-on trade and healthcare-support programs, which may appeal to adults changing careers, though specific program lengths and schedules are not reported here.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not reported in the provided data; contact the school directly for program-specific credentialing information.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Virginia Highlands Community College at (276) 739-2400 or through its website at https://www.vhcc.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not included here; the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?233903 allows side-by-side comparisons of similar institutions.
Nearby trade and career schools in Virginia
- Public School SystemAbingdon, VA
- Mountain Empire Community CollegeBig Stone Gap, VA · 48% completion
- Crown Cutz Academy BristolBristol, VA · career school
- Dickenson County Public SchoolsClintwood, VA
- Lee County public SchoolsJonesville, VA
- Tri County Driving Academy IncLebanon, VA
- Wise County SchoolsWise, VA
- ECPI UniversityVirginia Beach, VA · university
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.