Head-to-head comparison
Concord University vs Valley College-Martinsburg: which has better ROI?
Option A Athens, WV
Concord University
- Net price / year
- $9,966
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,703
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Martinsburg, WV
Valley College-Martinsburg
- Net price / year
- $25,751
- Earnings, 10 years
- $24,900
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Concord University comes closer — median earnings $42,703 against a $39,864 total, vs $24,900 at Valley College-Martinsburg. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Concord University | Valley College-Martinsburg |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,966 | $25,751 |
| Total net cost | $39,864 | $103,004 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,703 | $24,900 |
| Median debt | $18,900 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$153,004 | -$572,204 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Concord University or Valley College-Martinsburg?
Concord University, at $9,966 a year after aid versus $25,751 — a gap of $15,785 a year, or $63,140 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 Concord University or Valley College-Martinsburg graduates earn more?
Concord University graduates report a median $42,703 ten years after entry, $17,803 more than the $24,900 at Valley College-Martinsburg. 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, Concord University or Valley College-Martinsburg?
Valley College-Martinsburg: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $18,900 at Concord University, a difference of $9,400. 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?
66% of students finish at Valley College-Martinsburg, against 39% at Concord University. 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.