Rappahannock Community College (RCC) was established in 1970 as part of the Virginia Community College System. Its purpose was to bring affordable college coursework and workforce training closer to residents of Virginia's Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck.
RCC operates campuses in Glenns and Warsaw. That two-campus structure matters today: students can pursue transfer-oriented study or career training without assuming that every course and service meets at one location. The college's offerings have expanded beyond traditional classroom courses to include online learning, short-term workforce training, and coursework taken by high school students.
RCC is a two-year community college, not a university organized into separate undergraduate and graduate schools. Its academic offerings include associate degrees, certificates, and shorter workforce credentials.
Students can find transfer-focused programs such as general studies alongside career-oriented study in areas including business, information technology, health care, and skilled trades. A transfer degree is intended to provide a foundation for further study; an occupational credential is designed around a particular field, although some of its courses may also transfer. Prospective students should compare the current catalog's program map, campus location, delivery format, and any selective-admission requirements before choosing a major.
RCC reports 34 full-time and 108 part-time teaching faculty in its institutional figures. Those counts describe staffing, not the number of academic departments or the availability of a particular instructor in a given term.
RCC's Glenns campus is in rural eastern Virginia, and the college also has a campus in Warsaw. The locations serve communities across the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck rather than a single city-centered student population.
For commuters, the practical question is which campus - or online format - offers the required courses on a workable schedule. Travel between the campuses can be substantial, and students should check individual class locations rather than assume that enrolling at RCC means attending only in Glenns. Access to a car or reliable transportation may be important for in-person classes and clinical or work-based training. Richmond International Airport is a regional travel option, not a routine means of getting to campus.
RCC's stated purpose, as a Virginia Community College System institution, centers on access to higher education, transfer preparation, and workforce development for the region it serves. Its public-service role includes academic coursework and training tied to community and employer needs.
That purpose explains the range of students RCC serves: someone beginning a bachelor's-degree pathway, an adult seeking a new credential, and a high school student taking college courses may all attend the same institution for different reasons. A mission statement expresses institutional priorities; it does not establish that a particular program will lead to admission elsewhere or to a specific job.
Name of the institution
Rappahannock Community CollegeLevel of institution
At least 2 but less than 4 yearsControl of institution
PublicSetting type
Rural: DistantInstitutional Category
Degree-granting, associate's and certificatesInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999School type
Two-year collegeMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1970Rappahannock Community College is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Associate's degreeData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.