Head-to-head comparison
University of Virginia-Main Campus vs Piedmont Virginia Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Charlottesville, VA
University of Virginia-Main Campus
- Net price / year
- $21,565
- Earnings, 10 years
- $86,863
- Payback
- 2.2 yrs
Option B Charlottesville, VA
Piedmont Virginia Community College
- Net price / year
- $5,963
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,752
- Payback
- No payback
University of Virginia-Main Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $86,260 in 2.2 years versus not at all at Piedmont Virginia Community College, on median earnings of $86,863 vs $40,752 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Virginia-Main Campus | Piedmont Virginia Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,565 | $5,963 |
| Total net cost | $86,260 | $11,926 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $86,863 | $40,752 |
| Median debt | $17,500 | $8,750 |
| Payback | 2.2 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $683,800 | -$164,086 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Virginia-Main Campus or Piedmont Virginia Community College?
Piedmont Virginia Community College, at $5,963 a year after aid versus $21,565 — a gap of $15,602 a year, or $74,334 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 University of Virginia-Main Campus or Piedmont Virginia Community College graduates earn more?
University of Virginia-Main Campus graduates report a median $86,863 ten years after entry, $46,111 more than the $40,752 at Piedmont Virginia Community College. 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, University of Virginia-Main Campus or Piedmont Virginia Community College?
Piedmont Virginia Community College: its completers carry a median $8,750 in federal loans versus $17,500 at University of Virginia-Main Campus, a difference of $8,750. 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?
96% of students finish at University of Virginia-Main Campus, against 39% at Piedmont Virginia Community College. 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.