Head-to-head comparison
West Virginia University at Parkersburg vs Concord University: which has better ROI?
Option A Parkersburg, WV
West Virginia University at Parkersburg
- Net price / year
- $1,807
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,171
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Athens, WV
Concord University
- Net price / year
- $9,966
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,703
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Concord University comes closer — median earnings $42,703 against a $39,864 total, vs $35,171 at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | West Virginia University at Parkersburg | Concord University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $1,807 | $9,966 |
| Total net cost | $3,614 | $39,864 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,171 | $42,703 |
| Median debt | $12,570 | $18,900 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$267,394 | -$153,004 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, West Virginia University at Parkersburg or Concord University?
West Virginia University at Parkersburg, at $1,807 a year after aid versus $9,966 — a gap of $8,159 a year, or $36,250 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 West Virginia University at Parkersburg or Concord University graduates earn more?
Concord University graduates report a median $42,703 ten years after entry, $7,532 more than the $35,171 at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. 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, West Virginia University at Parkersburg or Concord University?
West Virginia University at Parkersburg: its completers carry a median $12,570 in federal loans versus $18,900 at Concord University, a difference of $6,330. 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 Concord University, against 9% at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. 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.