Head-to-head comparison
Longwood University vs Southern Virginia 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 Buena Vista, VA
Southern Virginia University
- Net price / year
- $22,213
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,002
- Payback
- 54.1 yrs
Longwood University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $76,264 in 19.1 years versus 54.1 years at Southern Virginia University, on median earnings of $52,347 vs $50,002 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Longwood University | Southern Virginia University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,066 | $22,213 |
| Total net cost | $76,264 | $88,852 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,347 | $50,002 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $24,224 |
| Payback | 19.1 yrs | 54.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $3,476 | -$56,012 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Longwood University or Southern Virginia University?
Longwood University, at $19,066 a year after aid versus $22,213 — a gap of $3,147 a year, or $12,588 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 Southern Virginia University graduates earn more?
Longwood University graduates report a median $52,347 ten years after entry, $2,345 more than the $50,002 at Southern Virginia 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 Southern Virginia University?
Southern Virginia University: its completers carry a median $24,224 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Longwood University, a difference of $776. 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?
61% of students finish at Longwood University, against 33% at Southern Virginia 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.