Head-to-head comparison
Old Dominion University vs Randolph-Macon College: which has better ROI?
Option A Norfolk, VA
Old Dominion University
- Net price / year
- $14,638
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,914
- Payback
- 8.9 yrs
Option B Ashland, VA
Randolph-Macon College
- Net price / year
- $27,866
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,448
- Payback
- 11 yrs
Old Dominion University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $58,552 in 8.9 years versus 11 years at Randolph-Macon College, on median earnings of $54,914 vs $58,448 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Old Dominion University | Randolph-Macon College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,638 | $27,866 |
| Total net cost | $58,552 | $111,464 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,914 | $58,448 |
| Median debt | $24,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 8.9 yrs | 11 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $72,528 | $90,296 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Old Dominion University or Randolph-Macon College?
Old Dominion University, at $14,638 a year after aid versus $27,866 — a gap of $13,228 a year, or $52,912 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 Old Dominion University or Randolph-Macon College graduates earn more?
Randolph-Macon College graduates report a median $58,448 ten years after entry, $3,534 more than the $54,914 at Old Dominion 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, Old Dominion University or Randolph-Macon College?
Old Dominion University: its completers carry a median $24,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Randolph-Macon College, a difference of $3,000. 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?
70% of students finish at Randolph-Macon College, against 46% at Old Dominion 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.