Studying Accounting at Southwest Virginia Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Best Associates in Accounting Online.
Southwest Virginia Community College students may pursue two degrees in accounting and finance at Southwest Virginia Community College, and both programs are offered on the campus in Virginia, as well as through online study. Degrees available include the Associate of Applied Science in Accounting and the Associate of Applied Science in Accounting with a specialization in Insurance. Both degrees are suitable for enrollees who want to begin work immediately after graduation, as well as students interested in transferring to four-year institutions.
Students who choose the Associate of Applied Science in Accounting may complete the program in two years when they enroll full-time. The number of credits required is 65, and students must have keyboarding skills, as well as high school English knowledge and mathematics proficiency. Students who aren’t skilled with a keyboard can take a remedial class when they enroll to catch up on that skill.
The program begins with a focus on business, as well as some topics on accounting. Classes required include Principles of Accounting, Spreadsheet Software, Quantitative Reasoning, College Success Skills, and Introduction to Computer Applications and Concepts. The program also requires a handful of electives in areas like humanities, fine arts, and physical education.
Students who pursue the insurance degree in accounting may also complete their degree in about two years with full-time enrollment. At the conclusion of the program, students may find work as insurance policy processing clerks, claims examiners, insurance adjusters, auto damage appraisers, and personal financial advisors. The total number of credits required to complete the degree is 62.
Some of the classes students may take include Payroll Accounting, Computerized Accounting, Principles of Insurance, Communication in Management, and Personal Insurance. Other classes include Office Administration, Life & Health Insurance, and Customer Service. The program also allows students to take electives in areas like philosophy, music appreciation, a foreign language, or religion.
The main difference in the two degrees is that the accounting program is a blend of business and accounting classes, and the insurance program is a blend of classes on accounting and insurance topics. Students who plan on transferring to a four-year university should contact their intended institution before graduating from Southwest Virginia Community College to make sure they’re taking classes that will successfully transfer to a university.
About Southwest Virginia Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College is located in Cedar Bluff, Virginia, and is part of the state’s community college system. The college has operated since 1967 for the residents of Tazewell, Buchanan, and Russell counties. The college offers two-year degrees and is managed by the Local College Board. The college is the result of an initiative in 1966 to build a statewide system of community colleges.
The college has enrolled more than 100,000 students since it opened and has awarded more than 22,000 credentials and 17,070 degrees since 1967. Initial enrollment numbers were 710 students, and the college now enrolls more than 3,000 students each year. The college’s mission includes providing quality educational programs, creating lifelong learning of its students, and offering cultural enrichment opportunities.
Southwest Virginia Community College Accreditation Details
Southwest Virginia Community College has earned accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and this accreditation is for the overall institution. The commission is recognized by the Council for Higher Education, and students may check with the council’s database of accredited institutions for details on the college’s institutional approval.
The college has also seen its programs and operations approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. The occupational therapy assistant program has received approval from the American Occupational Therapy Association Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. The radiography associate degree has been accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. The paramedic program has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
Southwest Virginia Community College Application Requirements
Southwest Virginia Community College offers a free online application for students interested in enrolling in college classes. During the application process, students must submit transcripts from high school, and any previous colleges attended. To apply for financial aid during the application process, students must select a program they want to pursue. Applicants may enroll as first-time college students, transfer students, or returning students.
When the online application is complete, and transcripts have been sent, students will take a placement test to determine which classes they will take in their inaugural class session. Students can practice for the test using the college’s online simulation tool and then take the test at the Learning Assistance Center on campus. When testing is complete, students will be eligible to register for classes.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The tuition rate for students at Southwest Virginia Community College is $156.75 per credit for Virginia residents and $354.35 for out-of-state residents. Resident students who enroll in a full-time credit load of 12 credits will pay a total of $1,881.00 for tuition. Half-time students who enroll in six credits will pay $940.50 for tuition. For out-of-state students, the total for full-time enrollment is $4,252.20, and the total for half-time enrollment is $2,126.10.
Some of the fees students may pay alongside tuition costs include a $2.75 comprehensive fee per credit hour, which helps pay for parking, student government, and various college activities. Students who are children of deceased or permanently disabled veterans may qualify for a tuition waiver. Children of public servants like firefighters and law enforcement officers may also qualify for tuition waivers if their parent was killed in the line of duty.
Each year, Southwest Virginia Community College awards more than $6.7 million in financial aid from federal, state, and local sources. The college shares that the majority of its students receive some combination of scholarships, grants, and work-study awards to help pay for tuition. The college makes financial aid advisors available to students who have questions about the application process.
The first step students should take is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). There are no fees required to submit the FAFSA, and students should submit the form as soon as possible even if they haven’t yet applied to the college. After applying for federal financial aid, students are encouraged to visit the scholarship application page published by Southwest Virginia Community College to see what additional funds might be available.
