Head-to-head comparison
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University vs Washington and Lee University: which has better ROI?
Option A Blacksburg, VA
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Net price / year
- $24,953
- Earnings, 10 years
- $81,698
- Payback
- 3 yrs
Option B Lexington, VA
Washington and Lee University
- Net price / year
- $23,781
- Earnings, 10 years
- $94,810
- Payback
- 2 yrs
Washington and Lee University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $95,124 in 2 years versus 3 years at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, on median earnings of $94,810 vs $81,698 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Washington and Lee University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,953 | $23,781 |
| Total net cost | $99,812 | $95,124 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $81,698 | $94,810 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 3 yrs | 2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $566,948 | $833,876 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University or Washington and Lee University?
Washington and Lee University, at $23,781 a year after aid versus $24,953 — a gap of $1,172 a year, or $4,688 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 Polytechnic Institute and State University or Washington and Lee University graduates earn more?
Washington and Lee University graduates report a median $94,810 ten years after entry, $13,112 more than the $81,698 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State 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, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University or Washington and Lee University?
Washington and Lee University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a difference of $2,000. 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?
94% of students finish at Washington and Lee University, against 86% at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State 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.