Head-to-head comparison
Virginia State University vs American National University: which has better ROI?
Option A Petersburg, VA
Virginia State University
- Net price / year
- $15,840
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,543
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Salem, VA
American National University
- Net price / year
- $18,036
- Earnings, 10 years
- $26,370
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Virginia State University comes closer — median earnings $45,543 against a $63,360 total, vs $26,370 at American National University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Virginia State University | American National University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,840 | $18,036 |
| Total net cost | $63,360 | $36,072 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,543 | $26,370 |
| Median debt | $26,500 | $12,814 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$119,700 | -$475,872 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Virginia State University or American National University?
Virginia State University, at $15,840 a year after aid versus $18,036 — a gap of $2,196 a year, or $27,288 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 State University or American National University graduates earn more?
Virginia State University graduates report a median $45,543 ten years after entry, $19,173 more than the $26,370 at American National 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 State University or American National University?
American National University: its completers carry a median $12,814 in federal loans versus $26,500 at Virginia State University, a difference of $13,686. 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?
39% of students finish at Virginia State University, against 33% at American National 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.