Northern Virginia Community College

Location and Contact Information

The campus is in a large suburb.

Overview

Northern Virginia Community College, or NOVA, is the second largest multi-campus community college in the United States. NOVA is a part of the Virginia Community College System. It is the largest educational institution in the Commonwealth of Virginia and was founded in 1965 in Alexandria. It is regarded as an economical and affordable college.

NOVA offers over 150 certificate programs and degrees at the associates level in areas of allied health and nursing programs, biotechnology, business administration, computer science and engineering, to name a few. It has several campuses, which include:

• Alexandria
• Annandale
• Arlington Center
• Loudoun
• Manassas
• Medical Education
• Reston Center
• Woodbridge

NOVA’s student body is ethnically diverse, and it enrolls students from over 180 countries.

Highlights (vs. Other Schools)

• Many students concentrating in therapy and counseling, business and management, engineering, and computer science and engineering.
• Large number of students.
• Affordable tuition & fees.
• Large number of programs of study offered.
• High percentage of students are from out-of-state.
• High faculty salary.

School characteristics:

• The school is public.
• Academic calender: Semester.
• Carnegie classification: Associates Colleges.

Features of note:

• Open admission; accepts all qualified candidates.
• The school offers a faculty tenure system.
• There are one or more libraries on-campus.
• Students may study abroad.
• Distance learning is available.
• Weekend study is an option.
• Part-time classes are available.

Similar Schools

Based on proprietary BrainTrack computer comparisons against all other US colleges, these schools appear to be most similar to Northern Virginia Community College:

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Degrees Awarded (in 2009-2010)

Faculty

Tenure (2009-2010):

Students

Student enrollment was 42,663 in 2009-2010 (29,153 full-time equivalent).

Undergrads are 100% of enrolled students.

Students under 25 years old represent 60% of the student body. About 12% of the school is at least 40 years of age.

Room and Board

On-campus housing is not available.

Graduate School Focus

The highest degree offered is the Associate.

Programs of Study

(Number of degrees in 2009-2010 in parentheses)

ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING (19 awarded)

• Architectural Technology/Technician

ART STUDIES (41 awarded)

• Visual and Performing Arts

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT (743 awarded)

• Accounting and Related Services
• Business Administration and Management
• Business Administration, Management and Operations

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (240 awarded)

• Computer Science
• Computer and Information Sciences
• Information Technology
• Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design

CONSTRUCTION TRADES (7 awarded)

• Construction Trades

COOKING AND CULINARY ARTS (4 awarded)

• Cooking and Related Culinary Arts

DESIGN (38 awarded)

• Design and Visual Communications
• Interior Design

DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS (11 awarded)

• Visual and Performing Arts

ENGINEERING (56 awarded)

• Engineering

ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN (10 awarded)

• Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD
• CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician
• Civil Engineering Technology/Technician
• Electrical/Electronic/Communications Engr Technology/Technician
• Engineering Technology
• Industrial Technology/Technician
• Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians

FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK (20 awarded)

• Child Care Provider/Assistant
• Public Administration

HOSPITALITY (37 awarded)

• Hospitality Administration/Management
• Tourism and Travel Services Management

LANDSCAPING AND HORTICULTURE (2 awarded)

• Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations

LAW (29 awarded)

• Legal Assistant/Paralegal

LIBERAL ARTS (1,261 awarded)

• General Studies
• Humanities/Humanistic Studies
• Sign Language Interpretation and Translation
• Social Sciences
• Technical and Business Writing

MECHANICS AND REPAIR (37 awarded)

• Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician
• Heating/AC/Ventilation/Refrig Maint Technology/Technician

MEDIA (1 awarded)

• Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians

MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION (11 awarded)

• Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician

MEDICAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY (173 awarded)

• Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
• Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technician
• Dental Hygiene/Hygienist
• Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer & Ultrasound Technician
• Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer
• Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist
• Surgical Technology/Technologist
• Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician/Veterinary Assistant

NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE (274 awarded)

• Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)
• Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)

NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY (0 awarded)

• Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management

OFFICE AND ADMINISTRATION (1 awarded)

• Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services

PHOTOGRAPHY AND COMMERCIAL ART (8 awarded)

• Photography

PRODUCTION TRADES (0 awarded)

• Welding Technology/Welder

REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT (0 awarded)

• Real Estate

SCIENCE (155 awarded)

• Biological and Physical Sciences

SCIENCE AND LABORATORY TECHNICIAN (0 awarded)

• Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician

SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (68 awarded)

• Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
• Fire Science/Fire-fighting

THERAPY AND COUNSELING (213 awarded)

• Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
• Physical Therapist Assistant
• Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling