Eastern Shore Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Melfa, Virginia. It enrolls 495 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
78/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes47
Value96
Affordability76
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Eastern Shore Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Eastern Shore Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $2,495 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$2,495
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
40%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$5,082
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,520
Room & Board (off-campus)
$5,907
Books & Supplies
$1,213
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,631
Total Cost of Attendance
$10,998
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$2,054
$30,001 – $48,000
$1,726
$48,001 – $75,000
$3,793
What this means:
Aid reaches a meaningful share of the student body: 40% of students receive Pell grants. If your family qualifies for Pell, the real cost to you could be substantially lower than the average.
Graduation Rate & Retention
21% of full-time students who enrolled at Eastern Shore Community College graduate within six years, and 67% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
21%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
67%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Eastern Shore Community College earn a median of $32,418 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$32,418
Earning > $25K
54%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$25,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$34,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,400, about 25% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$13.0 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Eastern Shore Community College is home to 495 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 63% are first-generation college students, 65% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
495
Part-Time
65%
First-Generation
63%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 37.6%186
White 31.5%156
Hispanic 21.4%106
Other 4.0%20
International 1.4%7
Asian 0.6%3
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Eastern Shore Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: RemoteMelfa, Virginia
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
19%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Eastern Shore Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
11 distinct programs across
7 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Eastern Shore Community College is 19:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
19:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,047
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$1.3M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,719
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
14 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
1
7%
$75,684
Associate Professors
5
36%
$70,049
Assistant Professors
5
36%
$71,436
Instructors
3
21%
$59,653
Pros & Cons of Eastern Shore Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Eastern Shore Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, Eastern Shore Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Eastern Shore Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Eastern Shore Community College.
Is Eastern Shore Community College hard to get into?
Eastern Shore Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Eastern Shore Community College?
Eastern Shore Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Eastern Shore Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Eastern Shore Community College is $2,495 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Eastern Shore Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $32,418 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $2,495 per year. That's roughly 13.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Eastern Shore Community College known for?
Eastern Shore Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Medical Assisting, Industrial Production Tech. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Eastern Shore Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Eastern Shore Community College are $32,418, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Eastern Shore Community College accredited?
Yes. Eastern Shore Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Eastern Shore Community College?
Eastern Shore Community College enrolls 495 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Eastern Shore Community College?
Eastern Shore Community College graduates 21% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Eastern Shore Community College a public or private college?
Eastern Shore Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Eastern Shore Community College located?
Eastern Shore Community College is located in Melfa, Virginia.
What programs does Eastern Shore Community College offer?
Eastern Shore Community College offers 11 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Medical Assisting, Industrial Production Tech.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Eastern Shore Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Eastern Shore Community College is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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