Head-to-head comparison
Blue Ridge Community College vs University of Virginia's College at Wise: which has better ROI?
Option A Weyers Cave, VA
Blue Ridge Community College
- Net price / year
- $13,997
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,644
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Wise, VA
University of Virginia's College at Wise
- Net price / year
- $9,210
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,325
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Virginia's College at Wise comes closer — median earnings $45,325 against a $36,840 total, vs $42,644 at Blue Ridge Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Blue Ridge Community College | University of Virginia's College at Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,997 | $9,210 |
| Total net cost | $55,988 | $36,840 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,644 | $45,325 |
| Median debt | $10,409 | $16,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$170,308 | -$97,540 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Blue Ridge Community College or University of Virginia's College at Wise?
University of Virginia's College at Wise, at $9,210 a year after aid versus $13,997 — a gap of $4,787 a year, or $19,148 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 Blue Ridge Community College or University of Virginia's College at Wise graduates earn more?
University of Virginia's College at Wise graduates report a median $45,325 ten years after entry, $2,681 more than the $42,644 at Blue Ridge Community College. 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, Blue Ridge Community College or University of Virginia's College at Wise?
Blue Ridge Community College: its completers carry a median $10,409 in federal loans versus $16,750 at University of Virginia's College at Wise, a difference of $6,341. 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?
47% of students finish at University of Virginia's College at Wise, against 40% at Blue Ridge Community College. 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.