Head-to-head comparison
Roanoke College vs University of Lynchburg: which has better ROI?
Option A Salem, VA
Roanoke College
- Net price / year
- $24,503
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,047
- Payback
- 10.1 yrs
Option B Lynchburg, VA
University of Lynchburg
- Net price / year
- $22,235
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,380
- Payback
- 11.1 yrs
Roanoke College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $98,012 in 10.1 years versus 11.1 years at University of Lynchburg, on median earnings of $58,047 vs $56,380 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Roanoke College | University of Lynchburg |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,503 | $22,235 |
| Total net cost | $98,012 | $88,940 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,047 | $56,380 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 10.1 yrs | 11.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $95,728 | $71,460 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Roanoke College or University of Lynchburg?
University of Lynchburg, at $22,235 a year after aid versus $24,503 — a gap of $2,268 a year, or $9,072 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 Roanoke College or University of Lynchburg graduates earn more?
Roanoke College graduates report a median $58,047 ten years after entry, $1,667 more than the $56,380 at University of Lynchburg. 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, Roanoke College or University of Lynchburg?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, 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 Roanoke College, against 57% at University of Lynchburg. 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.