Head-to-head comparison
Laurel Ridge Community College vs American National University: which has better ROI?
Option A Middletown, VA
Laurel Ridge Community College
- Net price / year
- $6,013
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,000
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Salem, VA
American National University
- Net price / year
- $18,036
- Earnings, 10 years
- $26,370
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Laurel Ridge Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,000 against a $24,052 total, vs $26,370 at American National University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Laurel Ridge Community College | American National University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,013 | $18,036 |
| Total net cost | $24,052 | $36,072 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,000 | $26,370 |
| Median debt | $9,750 | $12,814 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$171,252 | -$475,872 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Laurel Ridge Community College or American National University?
Laurel Ridge Community College, at $6,013 a year after aid versus $18,036 — a gap of $12,023 a year, or $12,020 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 Laurel Ridge Community College or American National University graduates earn more?
Laurel Ridge Community College graduates report a median $41,000 ten years after entry, $14,630 more than the $26,370 at American National University. 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, Laurel Ridge Community College or American National University?
Laurel Ridge Community College: its completers carry a median $9,750 in federal loans versus $12,814 at American National University, a difference of $3,064. 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?
45% of students finish at Laurel Ridge Community College, against 33% at American National 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.