What Is It Known For?
Established in 1968, Tidewater Community College (TCC) has long been a fixture of higher education in southeastern Virginia. As part of the state’s community college system, the school is renowned for making quality education accessible and affordable.
As part of the Virginia Community College System, which comprises 23 community colleges across the state, TCC also serves a sizable student body with over 30,000 enrollments each year.
Degrees Offered
To accommodate the demands of students pursuing a variety of professional pathways, TCC offers a wide selection of academic programs. These include:
- Associate Degrees: TCC provides associate degrees in fields such as Business Administration, Engineering, Education, Healthcare, Information Technology, and more.
- Certificates: TCC offers certificates in specialized areas such as Cybersecurity, Early Childhood Education, Automotive Technology, Nursing Assistant, and many others.
- Diplomas: Diploma programs at TCC are available in fields such as Practical Nursing, Culinary Arts, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning), and Welding.
Class Schedules and Formats
TCC offers a flexible class schedule to cater to the different needs of its student body. Learners can choose from morning, afternoon, evening, or online courses, allowing both traditional and non-traditional students to find an option that fits their lifestyle.
What’s more is that many of the academic programs also incorporate real-world learning experiences, such as externships or clinical placements.
Accreditation and Legitimacy
Tidewater Community College is a legitimate institution. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This means that its programs meet high academic standards recognized nationally.
Acceptance Rate
TCC maintains an open admissions policy, welcoming all students who can benefit from its programs. This means that the school has an acceptance rate of 100%.
Cost of Attendance
The price of tuition at Tidewater Community College varies depending on where you live and the charges per credit hour. For example, Virginia residents pay $195.25, military contract out-of-state students pay $221.25, business contract students pay $307.25, and out-of-state residents pay $409.85.
To get a of what your costs might be, We recommend using the university’s Tuition & Fees page for more information.
Programs & Courses
Arts & Design
- Graphic Design
- Interior Design
- Music
- Theatre
Business
- Accounting
- Admin Support
- Business Admin
- Hospitality
- Management
- Procurement
- Restaurant Management
Education
- Early Childhood
Healthcare
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- EMT
- Health Information Management
- Health Sciences
- Lab Tech
- LPN
- Nurse Aid
- Occupational Therapy
- Pharmacy Tech
- Phlebotomy
- Physical Therapy
- Radiography
- Vet Tech
Law
- Criminal Justice
- Paralegal
Professional Services
- Fitness Trainer
- Funeral Services
Skilled Trades
- Automotive
- Collision
- Diesel
- Electrical
- Engineering
- HVAC
- Machining
- Marine Services
- Mechatronics
- Truck Driving
Technology
- Computer Programming
- Computer Science
- Cybersecurity
- Database Admin
- GIS
- Information Systems
- Networking
- Respiratory Therapy
- Web Development
Campus Locations
Chesapeake 1428 Cedar Road Chesapeake, VA 23322
Norfolk 300 Granby St. Norfolk, VA 23510
Portsmouth 120 Campus Drive Portsmouth, VA 23701
Portsmouth 3303 Airline Blvd. Portsmouth, VA 23701
Virginia Beach 1700 College Crescent Virginia Beach, VA 23453
Reviews
Based on local Google reviews for the Tidewater Community College (TCC) – Portsmouth Campus, the school has a deeply polarized reputation. While the physical environment and some instruction are praised, severe and frequent complaints about staff and administrative communication significantly drag down the overall experience.
Overall Score: 3.7/5 Stars
Common Criticisms
Severe Communication and Accessibility Issues: This is the most prevalent complaint. Reviewers consistently report being “Unable to ever reach anyone by phone or email.” Staff is described as dismissive, with one person being “told to come back” when visiting in person. Failures to reply to emails and repeated follow-ups often lead students to enroll elsewhere.
Rude, Hostile, and Unhelpful Staff: Multiple recent and older reviews describe the administrative and student center staff as “rude & unhelpful,” “oddly hostile,” and generally unprofessional. One person suggested, “The people here hate their jobs.” Another waited for an advising appointment only to be turned down.
Problematic Instructors and Hostile Learning Environment: Specific instructors are singled out for being “unprofessional, rude,” and having communication issues. One detailed, serious complaint (3 years ago) accuses a medical terminology instructor of verbally abusing and talking negatively about a Muslim student, calling her “LOSERS” and “not smart.”
Unfair Treatment and Bullying: Nursing students reported being subjected to “bullying by instructors,” with one girl quitting after the first class due to the hostile treatment. A separate complaint mentioned a Dean allegedly threatening suspension for not joining extracurricular activities, creating a feeling of having “no voice.”
Campus Guideline Enforcement Issues: A long-standing complaint mentions the campus “sucks for enforcing in own guidelines,” specifically regarding students misusing handicap parking spaces, with staff reportedly told to “look the other way.”
Common Praises
Clean, Nice Facilities & Atmosphere: The campus building itself is often described as a “hidden gem,” being “clean,” having a “Great atmosphere,” and a large library with plenty of computers. The Portsmouth campus is specifically noted as having the “Cleanest bathroom at any TCC campus!”
Competent and Helpful Professors: Many students report having “several wonderful professors” who are competent, willing to assist, and provide a “plethora of knowledge” in their respective subjects. Many feel that classes are easy to pass if one is “actually applying yourself and listening.”
Friendly Security: Security personnel (“Security peeps”) are mentioned positively as being “great.”
Positive Historical Experience: Older and long-time students note that the atmosphere has “changed” over the years, implying a friendlier past, but still hold onto positive memories of previous friendly staff and their education.
Momentum
Momentum is overwhelmingly negative. The most recent reviews (5 and 6 months ago) are the most scathing, focusing intensely on the inability to contact staff, rudeness, and unhelpful administration, suggesting these critical issues have not been resolved and may be worsening. While positive comments about the cleanliness and many instructors persist, the consistent reports of communication failure and staff hostility represent a significant and ongoing impediment to the student experience. The school does actively respond to some negative reviews, which suggests a commitment to follow-up, but this has not stopped the flow of highly critical feedback.