Public
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Hampton, Virginia
Virginia Peninsula Community College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$12,945Annual Cost
$37,996Grad Salary
28.8%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$6,468
Need-Based Aid
28.8% receive Pell
Virginia Peninsula Community College serves the historic Hampton Roads region from campuses in Hampton and Williamsburg. Established in 1967 as Thomas Nelson Community College (renamed in 2022), the college has grown to serve over 10,000 students annually across Virginia's Tidewater region. The Hampton campus features the Mary T. Christian Auditorium, the Dr. Mary T. Christian Library, and the Advanced Technology Center supporting STEM programs.
VPCC offers 80+ degree and certificate programs with particular strengths in maritime technologies, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing that support regional employers like Newport News Shipbuilding and Langley Air Force Base. The college's 'Hampton Roads Regional Workforce Development' initiative provides customized training for defense contractors and healthcare systems. VPCC maintains strong transfer agreements with Old Dominion University and William & Mary through its Guaranteed Admission Program. The college's Historic Triangle campus in Williamsburg serves the growing needs of the Peninsula's northern communities. VPCC's commitment to veterans is demonstrated through its 'VETS Center' and specialized programming for military-connected students.
Virginia Peninsula Community College Acceptance Rate
Virginia Peninsula Community College (Thomas Nelson Community College) maintains an inclusive admission policy. With an acceptance rate of 100%, the institution prioritizes accessibility and opportunity for all qualified students.
Admissions Guidelines
- Inclusive Enrollment: Emphasis is placed on meeting basic eligibility and high school completion.
- Launchpad Policy: Ideal for students looking to build a GPA for future transfer or career certification.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
If your GPA is slightly below the institutional average, you can remain competitive by scoring well on standardized tests and showcasing leadership in co-curricular activities.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Thomas Nelson Community College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Virginia Peninsula Community College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Virginia Peninsula Community College (Thomas Nelson Community College) Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into Thomas Nelson Community College Without SAT or ACT?
The admission test score (SAT/ACT) policy for Virginia Peninsula Community College is unknown. But it is better to submit the test score if you have performed well in the test. It gives an extra opportunity to showcase your skills and competencies and hence will improve your chances of admission. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. But if your score is not up to the mark and is less than the national or state average, then it is better not to submit the score as it will impact negatively.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Thomas Nelson Community College
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Thomas Nelson Community College provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about utilizing resources and planning your long-term academic or career trajectory.
Protect your pre-req GPA at a B or higher - and don't retake courses hoping to improve your odds, since VPCC explicitly advises against it
VPCC requires all nursing prerequisite courses to be completed with a grade of B or higher for the nursing application specifically (even though the college itself accepts a C for general transfer credit), with a minimum curricular GPA of 3.0 across those pre-req classes. Critically, VPCC's own guidance states it is NOT recommended to repeat an already-passed course to try to improve your odds - instead, redirect that energy into ATI TEAS prep, since the TEAS score is the more efficient lever for competitive standing than a marginal GPA bump from a retake.
If you're targeting the Newport News Trades Center, know this is a brand-new $9 million facility built specifically for maritime and shipbuilding careers
VPCC opened its 16,000-square-foot Newport News Trades Center in 2026, funded through a partnership with the City of Newport News and the U.S. Navy's Maritime Industrial Base Program, offering the college's first-ever courses in structural fitting and plumbing alongside welding, marine electrical, HVAC, and facilities maintenance - with a 20-booth welding lab equipped via a $457,000 state grant. Reference this specific new facility and its direct proximity to HII Newport News Shipbuilding (just blocks away) in any application or outreach related to maritime trades, since it represents a genuinely new, targeted regional investment most applicants won't know the details of yet.
Understand you can enter the shipbuilding pipeline through multiple distinct pathways - apprenticeship, MTT program, or trades center - and each has different entry requirements
Newport News Shipbuilding offers both the highly competitive, 4-year Apprentice School (requiring GED and Virginia Placement Test to take VPCC credit classes concurrently) and shorter Marine Trades Trainee (MTT) programs (2-3 weeks, offered directly at VPCC in Hampton) that lead to full-time NNS employment at pay grade 5 with automatic union-negotiated increases. If your goal is fast entry into shipbuilding employment rather than a four-year credentialed apprenticeship, the MTT route through VPCC is a genuinely faster, less competitive on-ramp - know which pathway matches your actual timeline before committing to one application process over the other.
Know your notification date depends on which VPCC campus you're applying to - Hampton and Historic Triangle run on different timelines
VPCC nursing applicants to the Hampton Campus are notified of admission status by May 1, while Historic Triangle Campus applicants are notified by November 1 - a real, campus-specific difference in timeline, not a single universal date. Confirm which specific campus your application is tied to and calendar the correct notification date, since assuming the wrong campus's timeline could lead to premature follow-up or, worse, a missed understanding of when to expect (or escalate around) a decision.
Expert Insight:
Because VPCC's general admission is fully open-door, applicants sometimes assume the nursing program's "alternate" status functions like a waitlist elsewhere - it doesn't quite. VPCC explicitly states that alternates have met all admission requirements but exceeded available seats, and are only offered conditional acceptance if declines/attrition create openings; there's no guarantee an alternate will ever be admitted that cycle. Treat alternate status as a real possibility of non-admission for that specific term, not a near-certain deferred acceptance, and plan a backup semester accordingly.
Thomas Nelson Community College Profile
Full Name
Virginia Peninsula Community College (Thomas Nelson Community College)
City
Hampton
State
Virginia
ZIP Code
23666
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Thomas Nelson Community College Degree Worth It?
Getting into Thomas Nelson Community College can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. Thomas Nelson Community College offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at Thomas Nelson Community College is $56,100 and the graduate unemployment rate is 3.52%.
How much does a degree from Thomas Nelson Community College Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at Virginia Peninsula Community College is $12,945. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Virginia Peninsula Community College is $6,468.
28.8% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 6.6 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to Thomas Nelson Community College and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At Virginia Peninsula Community College, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist Thomas Nelson Community College as your choice in the form.
How much does a Thomas Nelson Community College Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $37,996. An average Thomas Nelson Community College graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Degree Programs at Thomas Nelson Community College
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Full list of all degree programs offered by Virginia Peninsula Community College →
Frequently Asked Questions About Thomas Nelson Community College Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a lower salary, $37,996 annually, especially in non-technical fields.
The tuition fee at this university is relatively low, around $12,945 per year, making it more affordable for many students.
28.8% of students receive a Pell Grant at this institution. Your chances of need-based aid are moderate and depend primarily on your household income. Filing FAFSA early significantly improves your chances of receiving the maximum available grant amount.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.