Head-to-head comparison
Hampton University vs Roanoke College: which has better ROI?
Option A Hampton, VA
Hampton University
- Net price / year
- $25,319
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,159
- Payback
- 9.4 yrs
Option B Salem, VA
Roanoke College
- Net price / year
- $24,503
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,047
- Payback
- 10.1 yrs
Hampton University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $101,276 in 9.4 years versus 10.1 years at Roanoke College, on median earnings of $59,159 vs $58,047 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Hampton University | Roanoke College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,319 | $24,503 |
| Total net cost | $101,276 | $98,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,159 | $58,047 |
| Median debt | $25,442 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 9.4 yrs | 10.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $114,704 | $95,728 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Hampton University or Roanoke College?
Roanoke College, at $24,503 a year after aid versus $25,319 — a gap of $816 a year, or $3,264 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 Hampton University or Roanoke College graduates earn more?
Hampton University graduates report a median $59,159 ten years after entry, $1,112 more than the $58,047 at Roanoke 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, Hampton University or Roanoke College?
Hampton University: its completers carry a median $25,442 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Roanoke College, a difference of $1,558. 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?
67% of students finish at Roanoke College, against 57% at Hampton 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.