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Virginia Western Community College
Roanoke, VA 3,898 Undergrads 35.6% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$11,768
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$4,966
After Aid
Median Earnings
$48,004
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$4,966
Peer Midpoint: $17,333.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$48,004
Peer Midpoint: $34,461
Graduation Rate35.6%
Peer Midpoint: 68.7%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients48.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time38.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS57.4%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$555k
+$164k
+$71k
Median Cost$5k/yr
+$551k
+$159k
+$66k
Full Cost$12k/yr
+$544k
+$153k
+$60k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
24
∞
Median Cost$5k/yr
25
1438%
Full Cost$12k/yr
26
549%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return1170%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return226%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
CertCIP: 0106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,658
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
CertCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,697
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
CertCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,004
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Computer Software and Media Applications
CertCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Construction Trades, General
CertCIP: 4600
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,529
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Culinary Arts and Related Services
CertCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$32,240
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,602
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,928
Natl Median: $49,492
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Engineering, General
CertCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,019
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
CertCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$14,670
Earnings (4yr)
$40,327
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
CertCIP: 4702
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,813
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Homeland Security
CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,995
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
CertCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$30,845
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Legal Support Services
CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
CertCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$9,799
Earnings (4yr)
$42,073
Natl Median: $44,906
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,436
Natl Median: $43,365
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$19,039
Earnings (4yr)
$61,639
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,278
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
CertCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,073
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Associate's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,964
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,088
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Biological and Physical Sciences
AssocCIP: 3001
Median Debt
$6,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,601
Natl Median: $50,181
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$10,875
Earnings (4yr)
$42,202
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,933
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,094
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Computer Programming
AssocCIP: 1102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
AssocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Software and Media Applications
AssocCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
AssocCIP: 1110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,726
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,760
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$32,513
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$9,091
Earnings (4yr)
$72,417
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Design and Applied Arts
AssocCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,086
Natl Median: $38,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
AssocCIP: 5131
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,303
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
AssocCIP: 1500
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, General
AssocCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,206
Natl Median: $72,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,524
Natl Median: $73,593
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,609
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$9,799
Earnings (4yr)
$41,248
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1508
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,773
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$28,573
Natl Median: $40,734
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$12,789
Earnings (4yr)
$71,142
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
Social Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$9,346
Earnings (4yr)
$38,545
Natl Median: $43,146
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.