Head-to-head comparison
Virginia Western Community College vs Blue Ridge Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Roanoke, VA
Virginia Western Community College
- Net price / year
- $4,966
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,787
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Weyers Cave, VA
Blue Ridge Community College
- Net price / year
- $13,997
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,644
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Blue Ridge Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,644 against a $55,988 total, vs $38,787 at Virginia Western Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Virginia Western Community College | Blue Ridge Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,966 | $13,997 |
| Total net cost | $19,864 | $55,988 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,787 | $42,644 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $10,409 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$211,324 | -$170,308 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Virginia Western Community College or Blue Ridge Community College?
Virginia Western Community College, at $4,966 a year after aid versus $13,997 — a gap of $9,031 a year, or $36,124 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 Western Community College or Blue Ridge Community College graduates earn more?
Blue Ridge Community College graduates report a median $42,644 ten years after entry, $3,857 more than the $38,787 at Virginia Western 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, Virginia Western Community College or Blue Ridge Community College?
Blue Ridge Community College: its completers carry a median $10,409 in federal loans versus $11,000 at Virginia Western Community College, a difference of $591. 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?
40% of students finish at Blue Ridge Community College, against 40% at Virginia Western 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.