Potomac State College of West Virginia University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Potomac State College of West Virginia University charges a net price of $9,197/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $18,394. Graduates earn a median $55,939 ten years after entry, $7,579/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 2.4 years — a 20-year net return of $133,186, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Potomac State College of West Virginia University's 2.4-year payback ranks #120 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 91% of them, and #1 of 30 in West Virginia.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $9,197/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $18,394 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $55,939 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $7,579/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $22,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 2.4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $133,186 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 2 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.