Head-to-head comparison
American Public University System vs West Virginia Junior College-Charleston: which has better ROI?
Option A Charles Town, WV
American Public University System
- Net price / year
- $9,597
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,409
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Cross Lanes, WV
West Virginia Junior College-Charleston
- Net price / year
- $12,887
- Earnings, 10 years
- $27,472
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American Public University System comes closer — median earnings $44,409 against a $38,388 total, vs $27,472 at West Virginia Junior College-Charleston. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Public University System | West Virginia Junior College-Charleston |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,597 | $12,887 |
| Total net cost | $38,388 | $25,774 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,409 | $27,472 |
| Median debt | $21,743 | $8,270 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$117,408 | -$443,534 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, American Public University System or West Virginia Junior College-Charleston?
American Public University System, at $9,597 a year after aid versus $12,887 — a gap of $3,290 a year, or $12,614 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do American Public University System or West Virginia Junior College-Charleston graduates earn more?
American Public University System graduates report a median $44,409 ten years after entry, $16,937 more than the $27,472 at West Virginia Junior College-Charleston. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, American Public University System or West Virginia Junior College-Charleston?
West Virginia Junior College-Charleston: its completers carry a median $8,270 in federal loans versus $21,743 at American Public University System, a difference of $13,473. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
60% of students finish at West Virginia Junior College-Charleston, against 57% at American Public University System. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.