Head-to-head comparison
Virginia Military Institute vs Riverside College of Health Sciences: which has better ROI?
Option A Lexington, VA
Virginia Military Institute
- Net price / year
- $17,113
- Earnings, 10 years
- $77,369
- Payback
- 2.4 yrs
Option B Newport News, VA
Riverside College of Health Sciences
- Net price / year
- $20,744
- Earnings, 10 years
- $66,072
- Payback
- 2.3 yrs
Riverside College of Health Sciences has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $41,488 in 2.3 years versus 2.4 years at Virginia Military Institute, on median earnings of $66,072 vs $77,369 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Virginia Military Institute | Riverside College of Health Sciences |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,113 | $20,744 |
| Total net cost | $68,452 | $41,488 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $77,369 | $66,072 |
| Median debt | $22,996 | $14,787 |
| Payback | 2.4 yrs | 2.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $511,728 | $312,752 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Virginia Military Institute or Riverside College of Health Sciences?
Virginia Military Institute, at $17,113 a year after aid versus $20,744 — a gap of $3,631 a year, or $26,964 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 Virginia Military Institute or Riverside College of Health Sciences graduates earn more?
Virginia Military Institute graduates report a median $77,369 ten years after entry, $11,297 more than the $66,072 at Riverside College of Health Sciences. 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, Virginia Military Institute or Riverside College of Health Sciences?
Riverside College of Health Sciences: its completers carry a median $14,787 in federal loans versus $22,996 at Virginia Military Institute, a difference of $8,209. 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?
100% of students finish at Riverside College of Health Sciences, against 76% at Virginia Military Institute. 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.