| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public two-year college, one of the 23 colleges of the Virginia Community College System; campus-based, with some programs fully online |
| Locations | Campuses in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach, plus the Regional Automotive Center (Chesapeake) and the Skilled Trades Academy (Portsmouth). All in Virginia |
| Credentials | Associate of Applied Science (AAS) career degrees, AS and AA transfer degrees, certificates and Career Studies Certificates (9 to 35 credits); non-credit workforce courses at the Skilled Trades Academy |
| Accreditation | The Commission on Colleges and Universities; next reaffirmation 2027 |
| Federal aid | Yes, federal school code 003712 |
| 2026-27 cost | $207.10 per credit for Virginia residents ($177.00 tuition plus fees); $452.70 out of state |
| Students | 16,884 in fall 2024; 23,148 over the 2023-24 year |
| Housing | None |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
South Hampton Roads’ community college, split by trade across six sites
Tidewater Community College is the public community college for South Hampton Roads, part of the Virginia Community College System and its second-largest college. It was established in 1968. TCC counted 16,884 students in fall 2024, 69% of them part-time, and 23,148 different students over the 2023-24 year. About a third of its students, roughly 8,000, are connected to the military (2025-26). Career training is spread across sites by subject: engines at the Regional Automotive Center, electrical and industrial trades in Chesapeake, the RN degree, HVAC, welding and truck driving in Portsmouth, culinary and graphic design in Norfolk, and most health programs in Virginia Beach. The federal Maritime Administration has designated TCC a Center of Excellence for domestic maritime workforce training.
Career programs and where they are taught
TCC awards career degrees (AAS), certificates and shorter Career Studies Certificates (CSCs). The table lists the main job-focused programs from TCC’s program pages (October 2026). TCC says it has 13 nationally accredited academic programs.
| Program | Credential | Length | Where | Prepares for / accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing (RN) | AAS, 64 credits | 4 semesters; fall and spring starts | Portsmouth | NCLEX-RN; ACEN-accredited |
| Practical Nursing | Certificate, 45 credits | 3 semesters; spring start | Virginia Beach | NCLEX-PN; Virginia Board of Nursing initial approval |
| Nurse Aide | CSC, 9 credits | 1 semester | Virginia Beach | Virginia nurse aide exam |
| Radiography | AAS, 72 credits | 7 semesters; May start | Virginia Beach | ARRT; JRCERT-accredited |
| Respiratory Therapy | AAS, 67 credits | 6 semesters; fall start | Virginia Beach | RRT exams; CoARC-accredited |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonography | AAS, 67 credits | 5 semesters; fall start | Virginia Beach | ARDMS; CAAHEP-accredited |
| Medical Laboratory Technology | AAS, 67 credits | 6 semesters | Virginia Beach | ASCP BOC; NAACLS-accredited |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | AAS, 67 credits | 5 semesters | Virginia Beach | NPTE-PTA; CAPTE-accredited |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | AAS, 67 credits | 6 semesters, full-time weekdays | Virginia Beach | NBCOT; ACOTE-accredited |
| Surgical Technology | AAS, 63 credits | 4 semesters | Virginia Beach | CST exam; no accreditor named |
| Emergency Medical Services | AAS, 65 credits (paramedic); EMT CSC, 9–11 | 5 semesters; EMT 1 semester | Virginia Beach | NREMT; CAAHEP-accredited |
| Health Information Management | AAS, 69 credits | 5 semesters, hybrid | Virginia Beach | RHIT; CAHIIM-accredited |
| Phlebotomy | CSC, 12 credits | 1 semester | Virginia Beach | NHA CPT |
| Veterinary Technology | AAS, 63 credits; Vet Assistant CSC, 17 | 6 semesters | Virginia Beach | VTNE; AVMA-accredited |
| Funeral Service | AAS, 67 credits; Funeral Directing AAS, 61 | – | Virginia Beach | National Board Exam (Funeral Service only); ABFSE-accredited |
| Automotive Technology | AAS, 68 credits; 2 CSCs | 5 semesters | Regional Automotive Center | ASE Education Foundation; Virginia State Inspection licence |
| Diesel (Medium/Heavy Truck) | AAS, 66 credits; 2 CSCs | 5 semesters | Regional Automotive Center | ASE Education Foundation |
| Collision Repair | CSC, 23 credits | 3 semesters, evenings | Regional Automotive Center | I-CAR ProLevel 1–2 |
| Marine Diesel and Marine Gasoline Engine | AAS, 66 credits; CSCs, 27 | AAS 5 semesters | Regional Automotive Center | ABYC |
| Welding | Certificate, 33 credits; CSC, 18 | 3 or 2 semesters | Portsmouth | – |
| HVAC/R | AAS, 64 credits; CSC, 35 | 4 or 3 semesters | Portsmouth | EPA certification |
| Truck Driving | CSC, 16 credits | 1 semester (about 15 weeks) | Portsmouth (listed campus) | Class A CDL |
| Electrical Technology | AAS, 66 credits (5 specializations); certificates | – | Chesapeake | Virginia licensing exam prep (14-credit CSC) |
| Mechatronics | AAS, 66 credits; 3 CSCs | – | Chesapeake | – |
| Machine Technology | CSCs, 16 and 22 credits | – | Chesapeake | NIMS |
| Maritime Technologies | AAS, 60–61 credits; CSCs | – | Chesapeake and Portsmouth | For shipyard registered apprentices |
| Engineering Technology | AAS, 60–68 credits (5 options) | – | Virginia Beach | – |
| CADD | AAS, 67 credits; certificate, 33 | – | Portsmouth and Virginia Beach | – |
| Culinary Arts | AAS, 63–64 credits; 3 CSCs | – | Norfolk | ACFEF-accredited |
| Graphic Design | AAS, 61–65 credits | 5 semesters | Norfolk | – |
| Interior Design | AAS, 66 credits; 3 CSCs | 5 semesters | Chesapeake | NKBA AKBD (Kitchen and Bath CSC) |
| Horticulture | AAS, 61 credits; 2 CSCs | – | Chesapeake | Pesticide applicator; ISA Certified Arborist |
| Paralegal Studies | AAS, 67 credits | – | Virginia Beach | ABA-approved |
| Fire Science Technology | AAS, 64 credits; CSC, 24 | Evening schedule | Virginia Beach and online | – |
| Cyber Security | AAS, 65–66 credits; CSCs | – | Chesapeake and Virginia Beach | NSA CAE2Y college |
| Information Systems Technology | AAS, 66–67 credits (6 specializations); CSCs | – | Virginia Beach | – |
| Accounting, Management, Procurement, Logistics | AAS and certificates | – | Campuses and online | – |
TCC also teaches Human Services (Norfolk and Portsmouth, with two internships), American Sign Language interpreting (Chesapeake), Early Childhood Development and Criminal Justice (all four campuses), Hospitality Management (Virginia Beach), and short certificates in Artificial Intelligence, Off-Shore Wind Energy, Land Surveying and Quality Assurance. Business Administration, Computer Science, Engineering and Education are taught as transfer AS degrees for students heading to a four-year school, and Health Sciences is a pre-health pathway rather than a job credential.
What the main programs cover
Nursing at Portsmouth and Virginia Beach
The RN degree and practical nursing are on different campuses. The Nursing AAS at Portsmouth runs four semesters, with applications in two windows a year, and has three ways in: the standard entry, an LPN-to-RN track, and advanced standing with a summer start for paramedics and respiratory therapists. Practical Nursing in Virginia Beach takes three semesters and starts only in spring, with a 30 September deadline. Both include clinical rotations. Every nursing and health course carries TCC’s $25-per-credit healthcare surcharge, on top of tuition.
Automotive, diesel and marine engines
All engine programs share the Regional Automotive Center’s 15 labs. Automotive students can follow manufacturer-sponsored tracks with Ford (ASSET), Honda, Toyota (T-TEN), Chrysler and Subaru, take paid internships with employers, and earn a Virginia State Inspection licence. The diesel degree concentrates on medium and heavy trucks. Collision Repair runs as part-time evening classes over three semesters and follows I-CAR’s non-structural and refinishing levels. The marine programs follow ABYC standards and include Volvo Penta training.
Truck Driving (Class A CDL)
Truck Driving is a one-semester, 16-credit certificate of about 15 weeks aimed at the Class A licence the Virginia DMV tests. Admission is selective, separate from TCC’s open admission, and applicants need a Virginia driver’s licence, a DOT physical and a drug screen. TCC’s program page lists the Portsmouth Campus. A federal database of college sites lists TCC’s Suffolk site at 7000 College Drive as a “Truck Driving Range”, but TCC’s pages do not say which parts of the course meet there, so ask where driving practice takes place.
Welding, HVAC/R and electrical
Welding and HVAC/R are taught at the Portsmouth Campus. The 33-credit welding certificate runs from oxyfuel cutting and welding up to pipe and tube work over three semesters; the 18-credit Welding Essentials certificate takes two. HVAC/R students choose a four-semester AAS or a three-semester refrigeration certificate and prepare for EPA certification. Electrical Technology, in Chesapeake, offers five AAS specializations from fiber and data cabling to programmable logic control, and a 14-credit wiring certificate built around the National Electrical Code.
Shipyard trades and the Skilled Trades Academy
Hampton Roads shipyards shape two sets of TCC programs. The credit Maritime Technologies degree and certificates, in Chesapeake and Portsmouth, serve registered apprentices; MARAD’s overview counts about 200 Norfolk Naval Shipyard apprentices a year. The Skilled Trades Academy in Portsmouth teaches mostly non-credit courses of three to eight weeks, on day, evening and weekend schedules, in trades such as pipefitting, ship fitting, marine coatings, sheet metal and roofing. Virginia’s FastForward grant can help pay for eligible short workforce credentials.
Culinary Arts in Norfolk
Culinary Arts is taught only on the Norfolk Campus. The AAS is accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation, and three shorter certificates let students focus on catering (27 credits), classical cooking (18) or kitchen management (21) without the full degree. TCC reported 100% job placement for the program in 2024. Students interested in front-of-house or hotel work can look at Hospitality Management in Virginia Beach, which includes event planning and lodging certificates.
2026-27 tuition and fees
TCC charges by the credit hour. The 2026-27 rates below include the institutional, student activity and auxiliary capital fees; out-of-state and contract rates also include a $28.50 capital fee.
| Student | Tuition per credit | Total per credit with fees |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia residents | $177.00 | $207.10 |
| Military veterans and dependents (in-state) | $177.00 | $207.10 |
| Military contract, out of state | $177.00 | $235.60 |
| Business contract | $265.50 | $324.10 |
| Out-of-state residents | $394.10 | $452.70 |
On top of these, healthcare courses add $25.00 per credit and skilled-trades and agriculture courses add $12.50 per credit. TCC’s optional First Day course-materials charge is $22.50 per credit. At the in-state rate, 30 credits a year come to about $6,213 before surcharges and books. Federal data put the average net price at $11,876 for 2023-24, after grants. TCC’s 2024 figure for the whole Culinary Arts AAS was about $12,301 in tuition and fees.
Paying for it: aid and military benefits
TCC takes federal student aid (school code 003712); 66% of full-time first-time students received aid, averaging $7,648 (College Navigator). Virginia’s FastForward grant covers eligible short-term workforce credentials, and about 2,000 students used it in fall 2025, according to Virginia Business. Engineering AS students can get transfer grants of up to $1,000 a year, plus $1,000 a year for STEM. Military veterans and their dependents pay the in-state rate, and service members on a military contract from out of state pay $235.60 per credit. In May 2021 TCC signed a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act on equal access for veterans with disabilities through its Veterans Access Program; an addendum extending it was posted in May 2024.
Open admission, selective programs and schedules
TCC has open admission, but most health programs, Truck Driving and the Engineering AS need a separate selective application with their own deadlines: Radiography by 18 December for a May start; Respiratory Therapy, Sonography, OTA and Health Information Management by 15 May for fall; Practical Nursing by 30 September for spring; Phlebotomy by 1 April or 1 November; and Nursing from 15 December to 15 February (fall) or 15 June to 15 August (spring).
Classes run in the day, evening, online and hybrid. Some programs have their own pattern: Fire Science uses a two-night evening schedule, Collision Repair is part-time in the evenings, Veterinary Technology meets two days a week plus full-day labs, and OTA is full-time on weekdays. Accounting, Management, Acquisition and Procurement, Logistics, the Criminal Justice AAS, Law Enforcement, Fire Science, Land Surveying and Quality Assurance can be taken online. Online students from outside Virginia pay the out-of-state rate, and students in licensure programs who plan to move should check their own state’s rules.
Accreditation and published results
TCC is accredited to award associate degrees by the regional accreditor that renamed itself The Commission on Colleges and Universities (formerly SACSCOC) on 1 September 2026; the change did not affect member colleges’ status. TCC was last reaffirmed in 2017 and its next reaffirmation is due in 2027. The Commission’s June 2026 board report lists a focused review of TCC with no additional report requested. Programmatic accreditors include ACEN, JRCERT, CoARC, CAAHEP, NAACLS, CAPTE, ACOTE, CAHIIM, the AVMA, ABFSE, the ACF Education Foundation, the ABA and the ASE Education Foundation.
Under the federal measure, 32% of first-time, full-time students graduated within 150% of normal time (three years for a two-year degree), and 15% transferred out (College Navigator, October 2026; cohort year not shown). Full-time first-year retention is 64%, and 38% for part-time students. Program results published by TCC:
| Program (exam) | Result | Cohort or years | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Laboratory Technology (ASCP BOC) | 100% each year; 80% in 2022 | 2023, 2024 and 2025 graduates (2025 as of Oct 2025) | TCC program page |
| Physical Therapist Assistant (NPTE) | 97.2% first-time; graduation 81.5%; employment 94.5% within a year | 2024-25 average | TCC outcomes page |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant (NBCOT) | 88%; graduation 100% (60 of 60) | 2023–2025 | TCC program page |
| Veterinary Technology (VTNE) | 88.14%; graduation 79%, placement 100% (2025) | Three years, 2023–2025 | TCC program page |
| Health Information Management (RHIT) | 100%; graduation 82%, retention 86% | 1 Aug 2023 – 31 Jul 2024 | TCC program page |
| Funeral Service (National Board Exam) | Arts 90% (10 tested); Sciences 78% (9 tested); 90% employed in funeral service | 2025 | TCC outcomes page |
| Culinary Arts | 100% job placement | 2024 | TCC program page |
| Nursing AAS (NCLEX-RN) | 98.41% (63 tested) | 2024 | registerednursing.org, a third-party site; not checked against the Virginia Board of Nursing |
TCC’s EMS and sonography pages give pass rates without saying which years they cover, so they are left out here, as are Radiography and Respiratory Therapy results that sit in reports we could not read.
Before you enroll
- Check which campus teaches your program. The RN degree is in Portsmouth while nearly all other health programs are in Virginia Beach; engines are at the Regional Automotive Center; electrical, credit machining and mechatronics are only in Chesapeake.
- Health programs are selective and many start once a year. Open admission to the college does not mean a place in Radiography, Respiratory Therapy, Sonography, OTA or Practical Nursing, and deadlines fall months before the start.
- Check accreditation claims program by program. Surgical Technology names no programmatic accreditor, which affects CST exam eligibility; the Funeral Directing AAS is not ABFSE-accredited; Practical Nursing has only initial state approval and listed its 2024 NCLEX-PN results as pending; Interior Design does not state CIDA accreditation; and the welding page does not mention AWS certification.
- Skilled Trades Academy courses are mostly non-credit. They are short workforce courses, not degree programs; ask whether a course leads to an industry credential.
- There is no college housing, so students arrange their own.
Locations
All TCC sites are in Virginia:
- Chesapeake Campus (1428 Cedar Road): electrical technology, mechatronics, machining, maritime shipyard certificates, interior design, horticulture and American Sign Language.
- Regional Automotive Center (600 Innovation Drive, Chesapeake): automotive, diesel, collision and marine engine programs.
- Norfolk Campus (315 Granby Street): culinary arts, graphic design at the Visual Arts and Design Center, human services and personal training.
- Portsmouth Campus (120 Campus Drive): RN nursing, HVAC/R, welding, CADD, maritime technologies and logistics; Truck Driving is listed here.
- Skilled Trades Academy (3303 Airline Blvd., Portsmouth): non-credit welding, shipyard, construction and building trades courses.
- Virginia Beach Campus (1700 College Crescent): nearly all health programs, veterinary technology, funeral service, hospitality, paralegal, fire science, engineering technology and information systems.
TCC’s district administration offices are at 121 College Place in Norfolk. The college closed its Visual Arts Center at 340 High Street in Portsmouth on 30 June 2021 and moved those programs to the Norfolk Campus.
Internships, apprenticeships and career help
Each campus has career services. All health programs include clinical rotations, the Regional Automotive Center offers paid internships, Human Services includes two internships, Health Information Management an 80-hour internship and American Sign Language a 200-hour internship. Shipyard apprentices take their related instruction through the Maritime Technologies programs. TCC has no campus housing.
What students say
On Niche, TCC has 3.88 out of 5 from about 1,670 reviews and an overall grade of B- (checked 7 October 2026). Reviewers most often praise the low cost, professors they describe as caring and approachable, and online and evening schedules that suit working adults. The main complaints are slow or unclear communication from administrative offices, especially on financial aid and transfer questions, little campus life, and uneven course quality, with some classes described as reading the textbook without lectures. The reviews cover the whole college rather than particular programs, and we could not check whether any were invited by the college or posted in bursts.
Sources
Checked October 2026: TCC locations · TCC Program Finder · 2026-27 tuition and fees · College Navigator · Accreditor name change · MARAD Center of Excellence overview · DOJ settlement page · Skilled Trades Academy expansion
Programs & Courses
Nursing
- Nursing AAS (RN), with LPN-to-RN track (Portsmouth)
- Practical Nursing certificate (Virginia Beach)
- Nurse Aide (Virginia Beach)
Health Professions (Virginia Beach)
- Radiography
- Computed Tomography (for registered technologists)
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- Respiratory Therapy
- Medical Laboratory Technology
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Surgical Technology
- Emergency Medical Services: EMT, Advanced EMT, Paramedic AAS
- Health Information Management
- Phlebotomy
- Pharmacy Technician (campus not confirmed)
- Veterinary Technology
- Veterinary Assistant
- Funeral Service and Funeral Directing
- Personal Training and Fitness (also Norfolk)
- Health Sciences (pre-health pathway and transfer)
Automotive and Marine Engines (Regional Automotive Center)
- Automotive Technology
- Diesel: Medium/Heavy Truck Service Technician
- Collision Repair
- Diesel Marine Technician
- Marine Gasoline Engine
Skilled Trades and Maritime
- Welding (Portsmouth)
- HVAC/R (Portsmouth)
- Electrical Technology (Chesapeake)
- Mechatronics (Chesapeake)
- Machine Technology: CNC Operator, Basic Machining (Chesapeake)
- Maritime Technologies, Inside Machinist, Marine Electrical
- Off-Shore Wind Energy Technician
- Truck Driving (Class A CDL)
- Skilled Trades Academy non-credit courses (Portsmouth)
Engineering Technology and Drafting
- Engineering Technology: general, civil, electronics, industrial, mechanical
- Land Surveying
- Quality Assurance
- Construction Project Management
- Occupational Safety
- CADD and Architectural Drafting and Design
- Engineering AS (transfer)
Design, Food and Hospitality
- Culinary Arts (Norfolk)
- Graphic Design (Norfolk)
- Interior Design (Chesapeake)
- Horticulture and Landscape Management (Chesapeake)
- Hospitality Management, Event Planning, Food Service Management
Business
- Accounting
- Management, including Maritime Logistics and Small Business and Entrepreneurship
- Supervisory Management
- Acquisition and Procurement (online)
- Logistics (online)
- Administrative Support Technology and Medical Administrative Assistant
- Business Administration (transfer AS)
Information Technology
- Cyber Security
- Information Systems Technology: Database, GIS, Network Administration, Network Infrastructure, Programming and Mobile Apps, Web Development
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computer Science (transfer AS)
Public Safety, Law and Human Services
- Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, Homeland Security, Public Law
- Law Enforcement
- Fire Science Technology
- Paralegal Studies (ABA-approved)
- Human Services
- Early Childhood Development
- American Sign Language (interpreter)
Campus Locations
Chesapeake, VA (Chesapeake Campus) 1428 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322
Chesapeake, VA (Regional Automotive Center) 600 Innovation Drive, Chesapeake, VA 23320
Norfolk, VA (Norfolk Campus) 315 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510
Portsmouth, VA (Portsmouth Campus) 120 Campus Drive, Portsmouth, VA 23701
Portsmouth, VA (Skilled Trades Academy) 3303 Airline Blvd., Portsmouth, VA 23701
Virginia Beach, VA (Virginia Beach Campus) 1700 College Crescent, Virginia Beach, VA 23453