For Immediate Release:
April 4, 2017
Primary Media Contact:
Sally Voth
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
Phone: 540-868-7134
Laurel Ridge has been ranked Virginia’s No. 2 community college by LearnHowToBecome.org, which researches careers and their accompanying educational requirements.
The organization divided colleges by whether they are two-year or four-year institutions.
“The schools on our list have shown that they offer the educational experience and resources that leave their students career-ready,” LearnHowToBecome.org Senior Vice President Wes Ricketts says.
LearnHowToBecome.org looked at colleges that are regionally-accredited and not-for-profit. Factors that were considered when ranking schools were employment and academic resources, salaries among graduates 10 years after starting college, financial aid opportunities, graduation rates and student/teacher ratios.
Tidewater Community College received a score of 99.81, and was followed in the No. 2 spot by Laurel Ridge with a score of 99.23. Laurel Ridge scored better than Tidewater when it comes to graduation rate, student/teacher ratio, alumni salaries and financial aid, but Tidewater offers a higher number of programs.
Rounding out the top 5 list were Southwest Virginia Community College, Danville Community College and Central Virginia Community College.
“While this stellar ranking is gratifying, it really confirms what we here at Laurel Ridge already know – our students are able to take advantage of small classes taught by highly-qualified professors while receiving the individualized academic guidance that will steer them onto the pathway to a successful career,” Laurel Ridge President Dr. Cheryl Thompson-Stacy says.
LearnHowToBecome.Org’s ranking of community colleges can be seen here: http://www.learnhowtobecome.org/college/virginia/.
*************************
Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With four locations — Middletown, Warrenton, Luray-Page County and most recently, Vint Hill— the College serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont regions. The localities are the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. Laurel Ridge offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines, in addition to providing access to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs offered on site by a four-year institution. Laurel Ridge also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. Laurel Ridge serves more than 9,000 unduplicated credit students and more than 11,000 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.
Laurel Ridge Community College (Laurel Ridge) is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Laurel Ridge Community College. Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.
###