Head-to-head comparison
West Virginia University vs Potomac State College of West Virginia University: which has better ROI?
Option A Morgantown, WV
West Virginia University
- Net price / year
- $15,634
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,939
- Payback
- 8.3 yrs
Option B Keyser, WV
Potomac State College of West Virginia University
- Net price / year
- $9,197
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,939
- Payback
- 2.4 yrs
Potomac State College of West Virginia University has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $18,394 in 2.4 years versus 8.3 years at West Virginia University, on median earnings of $55,939 vs $55,939 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | West Virginia University | Potomac State College of West Virginia University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,634 | $9,197 |
| Total net cost | $62,536 | $18,394 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,939 | $55,939 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $22,500 |
| Payback | 8.3 yrs | 2.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $89,044 | $133,186 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, West Virginia University or Potomac State College of West Virginia University?
Potomac State College of West Virginia University, at $9,197 a year after aid versus $15,634 — a gap of $6,437 a year, or $44,142 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 or Potomac State College of West Virginia University graduates earn more?
Graduates of both report a median $55,939 ten years after entry, so earnings do not separate them either — the ROI difference comes entirely from what each degree costs. Figures are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, not programme-level pay.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, West Virginia University or Potomac State College of West Virginia University?
Completers at both borrow a median $22,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
65% of students finish at West Virginia University, against 31% at Potomac State College of West Virginia 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.