Head-to-head comparison
Longwood University vs Shenandoah University: which has better ROI?
Option A Farmville, VA
Longwood University
- Net price / year
- $19,066
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,347
- Payback
- 19.1 yrs
Option B Winchester, VA
Shenandoah University
- Net price / year
- $30,298
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,433
- Payback
- 12 yrs
Shenandoah University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $121,192 in 12 years versus 19.1 years at Longwood University, on median earnings of $58,433 vs $52,347 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Longwood University | Shenandoah University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,066 | $30,298 |
| Total net cost | $76,264 | $121,192 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,347 | $58,433 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 19.1 yrs | 12 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $3,476 | $80,268 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Longwood University or Shenandoah University?
Longwood University, at $19,066 a year after aid versus $30,298 — a gap of $11,232 a year, or $44,928 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 Longwood University or Shenandoah University graduates earn more?
Shenandoah University graduates report a median $58,433 ten years after entry, $6,086 more than the $52,347 at Longwood 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, Longwood University or Shenandoah University?
Completers at both borrow a median $25,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Shenandoah University, against 61% at Longwood 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.