Tidewater Tech-Trades
Norfolk, VA 23502
About Tidewater Tech-Trades
Tidewater Tech-Trades is a private for-profit trade school in Norfolk, Virginia, enrolling about 367 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. Typical net price after grant aid is about $26,366 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $16,337. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $31,657 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Tidewater Tech-Trades charges 2% below the national private for-profit median tuition ($16,337).
- Versus the Virginia median, sticker tuition is at.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 71.43%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $31,657.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Tidewater Tech-Trades is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 200% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tidewater Tech-Trades | $16,337 | $26,366 | 1 |
| Private For-profit (national median) | $16,637 | — | 477 |
| Virginia (state median) | $16,364 | $8,852 | 107 |
| Suburban (locale median) | $13,135 | $18,048 | 684 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Tidewater Tech-Trades really?
Key findings
- Tidewater Tech-Trades charges 2% below the national private for-profit median tuition ($16,337).
- Versus the Virginia median, sticker tuition is at.
Tidewater Tech-Trades tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $16,337
Finding Tidewater Tech-Trades charges 2% below the national private for-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $16,337. That is 2% below the national private for-profit median ($16,637). Versus the Virginia median ($16,364), sticker tuition is at. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 37% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private for-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Tidewater Tech-Trades versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Tidewater Tech-Trades versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Tidewater Tech-Trades is $26,366.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $26,366 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $17,514 above the Virginia median net price. Versus suburban campuses, net price runs $8,318 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Tidewater Tech-Trades, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Tidewater Tech-Trades: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Tidewater Tech-Trades—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$16,337
Avg. net price
$26,366
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $26,248 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $26,749 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $31,796 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $65,348. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Tidewater Tech-Trades is known for
Top program completions
- Welding Technology/Welder217
- Building/Property Maintenance104
- Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician100
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician75
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Tidewater Tech-Trades a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Tidewater Tech-Trades is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Tidewater Tech-Trades.
Campus
Location
Norfolk, VA
City / state
- ZIP
- 23502
- NCES locale
- Suburb
Compared with Suburban campuses nationally, net price is 46% above the median for Suburban campuses ($18,048 median).
Control
Institution type
Private For-profit
Control
- Region
- Southeast
Size
Enrollment
367
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 1,247
- Full-time share
- 81%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$9,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 59.53%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Tidewater Tech-Trades.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Tidewater Tech-Trades was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Tidewater Tech-Trades in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $15,411 | $15,411 | $23,100 |
| 2014 | $15,401 | $15,401 | $22,368 |
| 2015 | $15,401 | $15,401 | $21,031 |
| 2016 | $15,401 | $15,401 | $23,341 |
| 2017 | $15,401 | $15,401 | $24,124 |
| 2018 | $15,401 | $15,401 | $18,346 |
| 2019 | $15,401 | $15,401 | $21,260 |
| 2020 | $16,337 | $16,337 | $22,637 |
| 2021 | $16,337 | $16,337 | $25,042 |
| 2022 | $16,337 | $16,337 | $23,581 |
| 2023 | $16,337 | $16,337 | $24,671 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Tidewater Tech-Trades reported total enrollment of about 367 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 84% male and 16% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Black or African American (51.5%), White (28.9%), and Two or More Races (8.5%). About 59.53% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 51.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
81.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Tidewater Tech-Trades in 2024 is 367 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,247 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
62.8%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
71.43% 100% Completion Time
71.43% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 71.43% of students graduating from Tidewater Tech-Trades completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Welding Technology/Welder: 85% male / 15% female
- Building/Property Maintenance: 84% male / 16% female
- Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician: 95% male / 5% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Tidewater Tech-Trades graduates earn a median of $31,657 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Tidewater Tech-Trades.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $31,657. Median federal loan debt: $9,500. Average net price used in cost models: $26,366.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Tidewater Tech-Trades graduates report median earnings of $31,657 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Tidewater Tech-Trades.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 4 programs by IPEDS completions (5 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Tidewater Tech-Trades.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Tidewater Tech-Trades graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Tidewater Tech-Trades—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $2,931
- Virginia median 0.40× the median ($7,382)
- Southeast median 0.44× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 0.40× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
Tidewater Tech-Trades at a glance
Tidewater Tech-Trades
Tidewater Tech-Trades is a private for-profit institution in Norfolk, VA.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Welding Technology/WelderBuilding/Property MaintenanceHeating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician
- Largest enrollment groups
- Black or African American51.5%White or Caucasian28.9%Two or More Races8.5%
Schools near Tidewater Tech-Trades
Other campuses in Norfolk, VA when available, plus nearby institutions in Virginia.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Virginia, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Tidewater Tech-Trades located?
Tidewater Tech-Trades is located in Norfolk, VA.
What is Tidewater Tech-Trades's tuition?
Tidewater Tech-Trades tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $16,337 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $26,366 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Tidewater Tech-Trades cost?
Reported tuition is $16,337 and average net price is $26,366 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,195 annually.
What explains Tidewater Tech-Trades's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($26,366), completion (71.4% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($31,657). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Tidewater Tech-Trades?
Tidewater Tech-Trades reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,247 students, Black or African American (51.5%), White (28.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Tidewater Tech-Trades?
About 51.2% of students at Tidewater Tech-Trades are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Tidewater Tech-Trades earn?
Median earnings are $36,833 six years after entry and $31,657 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Tidewater Tech-Trades?
The 150%-time completion rate is 71.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Tidewater Tech-Trades students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $9,500.
Is Tidewater Tech-Trades public or private?
Tidewater Tech-Trades is a private for-profit institution located in Norfolk, VA.
Is Tidewater Tech-Trades an HBCU?
No. Tidewater Tech-Trades is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Tidewater Tech-Trades a tribal college?
No. Tidewater Tech-Trades is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.