New River Community and Technical College — ROI, Cost & Payback
New River Community and Technical College charges a net price of $3,599/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $7,198. Median earnings ten years after entry are $29,073, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, New River Community and Technical College does not clear its cost — it ranks #27 of 30 West Virginia colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $3,599/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $7,198 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $29,073 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$19,287/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $7,250 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$392,938 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on New River Community and Technical College's own numbers. Net price $3,599 × 2 years = $7,198 total. Median earnings $29,073 fall $19,287 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $7,198 bill in about 0.7 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do New River Community and Technical College students graduate with?
A median $7,250 in federal loans among completers, or 25% of the $29,073 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of New River Community and Technical College students graduate?
36% finish their degree — 64% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $7,198 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $19,994 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is New River Community and Technical College expensive compared with other West Virginia colleges?
Its $3,599 net price runs $7,131 below the $10,730 median across the 30 West Virginia colleges we profile, and $14,262 less across the full degree.