10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$213,614at year 10Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF
Virginia Western Community College
Roanoke, VA · 24 field-and-degree records
Earnings reported for 24 · Federal debt reported for 12
Based onObserved earnings + college priceEstimate10-year payoff
Estimated 10-year payoff
Negative payoff
−$213,614 over 10 years
Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.
Not availableTime to earn back the modeled cost
−107%Estimated return after 10 years
$43,625Observed earnings · year 5
Not reachedHighest annual price before payoff reaches $0
Start with your question
What do you want to understand?
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK
Estimated payoff over ten years.
The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.
FEDERAL COST DATA
Four ways to read college price.
Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.
PUBLISHED STUDENT BUDGET · 2024–25
What makes up the annual price?
Sticker-price components reported to IPEDS. Grants and scholarships are not subtracted here.
Living off campus: $6,936 housing and food allowance plus $4,086 in other expenses.
Do not confuse this with net price. Net price subtracts average grants and scholarships. DegreeVerdict continues to use the separately labeled average net price in its standard college ROI scenario.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$193,750
$5,000Current college-wide context−$213,750
$8,000Annual price−$225,750
$16,000Annual price−$257,750
$24,000Annual price−$289,750
$32,000Annual price−$321,750
$40,000Annual price−$353,750
HOW STUDENTS ATTEND · 2023-24
Online study is a meaningful part of the student experience.
IPEDS enrollment counts show course delivery across the whole institution. They do not indicate whether a specific degree can be completed online.
Institution-level attendance context from IPEDS. Program delivery is reported separately on degree pages and in the program directory. These figures do not enter ROI.
College identity and local contextAccreditation, institution type, dual enrollment and state prices
COLLEGE AT A GLANCE
Institution details
Current federal characteristics describing the college, not the outcomes of a specific program.
- Accreditor
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Main award level
- Certificates
- Campus setting
- City
- Admissions
- Open admission
- Delivery
- Campus or mixed delivery
- Federal designation
- No special designation reported
DUAL-ENROLLMENT CONTEXT · 2024
2,224 high-school students took college courses.
IPEDS counts students enrolled in college credit while still in high school. A large dual-enrollment population can shape headline enrollment figures, especially at community colleges.
This is participation, not a college completion rate. It does not indicate how many students later enrolled after high school, earned a credential or entered the workforce.
STATE PRICE CONTEXT · 2024
Prices in Virginia run 1% above the U.S. level.
BEA Regional Price Parities compare price levels across states. A value of 100 equals the national average.
What it costs and what graduates earn
$4,966Average net price / year
$11,768Cost of attendance
$11,000Median federal student debt · completer borrowers
$117/moPublished 10-year payment estimate
$43,625Median earnings · year 5 after completion
40.1%Completion rate
Not availableAdmission rate
3,898Student size
Debt covers federal student-loan borrowers who completed. It does not include Parent PLUS or private loans. We show admissions scores only when a valid federal value is available.
What the numbers say about Virginia Western Community College
What does Virginia Western Community College cost?
Virginia Western Community College reports an average annual net price of $4,966 after grants and scholarships. This is an institution-wide average, not an individual aid offer.
What do Virginia Western Community College graduates earn?
The observed median earnings figure is $43,625 5 years after completion. It describes a federal cohort, not a guaranteed starting salary.
How much federal debt do Virginia Western Community College graduates have?
Completer borrowers report median cumulative federal student debt of $11,000. Parent PLUS and private loans are not included.
Is every degree at Virginia Western Community College worth the same?
No. The current release contains 24 field-and-degree records for Virginia Western Community College; 24 report year-4 earnings and 12 report federal debt. Outcomes can differ substantially by field and degree level.
DEBT AFTER COLLEGE
Are borrowers making progress?
Repayment progress, default and debt at exit describe different federal borrower cohorts. They are shown separately and do not change the ROI estimate.
Source: College Scorecard. Repayment progress is the share of borrowers who reduced principal by at least $1 at the stated measurement point. Debt covers federal student loans; Parent PLUS and private loans are excluded. Cohorts and reporting periods differ across measures.
Who studied here during the year
8,744Students enrolled at any point
8,744Undergraduate students
Not availableGraduate students
Unduplicated students enrolled at any point from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. This full-year measure is different from a fall headcount and does not enter ROI.
More student and earnings detailPrice by family income, retention, equity and common industries
WHO PAYS, WHO FINISHES, WHO EARNS
Outcomes are not the same for every family.
These federal cohorts add context that a single college average can hide. Missing figures remain unreported rather than estimated.
Complete within 150% of the expected time
31% received a Pell Grant within eight yearsMedian Parent PLUS debt
25 parent borrowers in the reported cohortMedian federal student debt
33% making progress in repayment after three yearsStudent family incomeMedian earnings after 10 yearsObserved federal cohorts
Lower income$35,033Earnings are not a guarantee
Middle income$43,572Earnings are not a guarantee
Higher income$45,513Earnings are not a guarantee
Three-year repayment progress
Lower income26%
Middle income50%
Higher income57%
Undergraduate student composition
White66%
Black14%
Hispanic8%
Asian3%
Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Parent PLUS debt belongs to parents; student-debt measures exclude Parent PLUS and private loans. Cohort definitions differ by measure.
INDEPENDENT CENSUS EARNINGS VIEW
How earnings develop by field
Privacy-protected Census employment records follow graduate cohorts one, five and ten years after completion. This source is kept separate from College Scorecard because its population and methodology differ.
Field and credentialYear 1Year 5Year 10
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering.Associate degree · Broad federal field 14
$28,199Year 1
$80,540Year 5
$98,926Year 10
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians.Associate degree · Broad federal field 15
$50,858Year 1
$68,045Year 5
$72,585Year 10
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.Associate degree · Broad federal field 51
$61,265Year 1
$62,463Year 5
$69,479Year 10
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.Certificate, 1–2 years · Broad federal field 51
$49,855Year 1
$51,223Year 5
$68,626Year 10
Accounting and Computer Science.Associate degree · Broad federal field 30
$25,972Year 1
$43,047Year 5
$64,854Year 10
Accounting and Related Services.Associate degree · Broad federal field 52
$36,215Year 1
$51,566Year 5
$59,628Year 10
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management.Associate degree · Broad federal field 50
$31,171Year 1
$38,509Year 5
$57,867Year 10
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.Certificate, less than 1 year · Broad federal field 51
$33,263Year 1
$41,834Year 5
$54,845Year 10
Median annual earnings in 2023 dollars. Each time point may use a different pooled graduation cohort. Coverage is limited to institutions participating in the Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes program.
NATIONAL CONTEXT
How this college compares
Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.
WHAT STANDS OUT
A faster read on this college
These summaries use every reportable field-and-credential record at this institution. They do not fill privacy-suppressed outcomes.
EARNINGS OVER TIME
What graduates earned in later years
$36,217Year 1
$48,004Year 4
$43,625Year 5
Each year can represent a different federal cohort, so the points do not track the same people over time.
Your choice of degree can change the payoff.
Graduate earnings differ by field and credential, even within the same college.
1Engineering, General · Associate's Degree$74,2062Dental Support Services and Allied Professions · Associate's Degree$72,4173Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Associate's Degree$71,1424Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians · Associate's Degree$67,5245Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Associate's Degree$65,0886Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$61,6397Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$54,9288Precision Metal Working · Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma$53,278Observed year-4 earnings · compare the same field and credential across colleges
Programs that stand out against the same-degree benchmark
This view rewards performance relative to the same field and credential, not simply majors that pay more everywhere.
1Dental Support Services and Allied ProfessionsAssociate's Degree · $72,417 reported+17%vs same-degree national median$11,500federal debt2Health and Medical Administrative ServicesUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma · $40,327 reported+14%vs same-degree national median$28,627federal debt3Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/TechniciansUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma · $54,928 reported+11%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt4Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing AssistantsUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma · $61,639 reported+10%vs same-degree national median$19,176federal debt5Precision Metal WorkingUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma · $53,278 reported+9%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt6Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma · $50,813 reported+6%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt
Comparable colleges in VA
Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive, not a quality ranking.
Clifton Forge, VA
Mountain Gateway Community College
- Annual net price
- $4,861
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $43,881
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -106%
Paul D Camp Community College
- Annual net price
- $4,126
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $44,572
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -102%
Laurel Ridge Community College
- Annual net price
- $6,013
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $45,177
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -99%
Rappahannock Community College
- Annual net price
- $4,343
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $41,470
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -118%
Compare fields and degree levels
Showing all 24 field-and-degree records in the current release.
| Major or field | Degree level | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 2024–25 graduates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering, General | Associate's Degree | $74,206 | Not available | Not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate's Degree | $72,417 | $11,500 | Not reported |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate's Degree | $71,142 | $23,500 | Not reported |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | Associate's Degree | $67,524 | Not available | Not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate's Degree | $65,088 | $12,000 | Not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $61,639 | $19,176 | 10 |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $54,928 | Not available | Not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $53,278 | Not available | Not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $50,813 | Not available | 0 |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $49,602 | Not available | Not reported |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | Associate's Degree | $47,601 | $7,334 | Not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $44,073 | Not available | Not reported |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $43,004 | Not available | 24 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Associate's Degree | $42,202 | $9,350 | Not reported |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $42,073 | $11,075 | 286 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Associate's Degree | $41,248 | $10,900 | Not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $40,327 | $28,627 | Not reported |
| Social Sciences, General | Associate's Degree | $38,545 | $9,128 | Not reported |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | Associate's Degree | $36,760 | Not available | Not reported |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $36,697 | $5,919 | 3 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate's Degree | $32,513 | Not available | Not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $32,240 | Not available | 18 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $30,845 | Not available | 8 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | Associate's Degree | $28,573 | $16,066 | Not reported |
Graduate counts come from IPEDS and group related majors into the same federal field. Missing earnings or debt values remain labeled as unavailable.
Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.