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Southwest Virginia Community College
Cedar Bluff, Virginia · Public community college
Address: 369 College Road US Rt. 19, 6 Miles S. Claypool Hill, Cedar Bluff, VA 24609 · Phone: (276) 964-2555 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, not yet lifted — Apr 2026 · Probation · American Occupational Therapy Association. 3 sanction actions in the window.
Southwest Virginia Community College is a public trade and career school in Cedar Bluff, VA, offering welding, EMT & paramedic training, and medical billing & coding programs, accredited by SACS and other bodies.
Southwest Virginia Community College has a 46.1% completion rate, below the state average of 57.1%, and graduates earn a median of $34,221 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Southwest Virginia Community College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid can be used here, and about 46.2% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $42,520 | $59,180 | $65,400 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $36,540 | $45,420 | $50,390 |
| Medical records specialists | $37,630 | $53,290 | $64,950 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $39,760 | $59,730 | $73,440 |
| Medical assistants | $37,090 | $44,740 | $46,570 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $50,580 | $64,920 | $74,540 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $60,000 | $80,670 | $95,870 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $36,540 | $59,330 | $76,540 |
| Machinists | $45,120 | $61,290 | $71,470 |
| Electricians | $40,780 | $62,900 | $78,190 |
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 | 35 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 22 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 18 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 13 | $26,400 | $41,937 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 12 | not reported | $38,289 | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 1–2 years | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | $38,289 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 2–4 years | 1 | 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
Southwest Virginia Community College is a public community college in Cedar Bluff, Virginia, located in a distant rural area. Federal financial aid (FAFSA and Pell Grants) can be used here, and the school is accredited, with program-specific accreditation from bodies including the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Across its 14 trade and career program families, the campus enrolls 1,651 undergraduates and awarded 153 trade-related completions, with the largest programs being welding (36 completions), EMT and paramedic training (30), and medical billing and coding (22).
On outcomes, the campus completion rate is 46.1%, below the state average of 57.1%. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $34,221. Median debt of graduates and annual cost of attendance are not reported for this campus in federal data. About 46.2% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of lower-income students.
This campus may suit students seeking hands-on, program-specific training in fields like welding, emergency medical services, or health administration support, particularly those in the rural Cedar Bluff area. Because program lengths are not detailed here, prospective students—including adult career changers—should contact the school directly to confirm schedules and format. To verify accreditation and review updated federal outcome data, check the listed accreditors above and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at the link provided.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
The college offers 14 trade and career program families, with the largest being welding (36 completions), EMT & paramedic training (30), and medical billing & coding (22).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited. Program-level accreditors include the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Occupational Therapy Association's Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 46.1%, 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. Contact the school at (276) 964-2555 or visit the College Scorecard link for updates.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $34,221, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
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 directly for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public school, which typically means lower tuition for state residents and eligibility for state-specific aid programs, though specific tuition figures are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in the available data. Contact the school at (276) 964-2555 or visit sw.edu to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the listed accrediting bodies and review official outcome data via the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?233648.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data shows program families like welding, EMT training, and medical billing that could suit career changers, but specific program length or scheduling details for adult learners are not reported here; contact the school to confirm fit.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can contact the school by phone at (276) 964-2555 or visit their website at https://sw.edu/ for application information.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported in this dataset; use the College Scorecard link to compare outcomes across institutions.
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.