Northern Virginia Community College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Northern Virginia Community College charges a net price of $9,919/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $19,838. Graduates earn a median $53,557 ten years after entry, $5,197/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 3.8 years — a 20-year net return of $84,102, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Northern Virginia Community College's 3.8-year payback ranks #266 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 79% of them, and #10 of 81 in Virginia.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $9,919/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $19,838 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $53,557 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $5,197/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $11,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 3.8 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $84,102 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Northern Virginia Community College's own numbers. Net price $9,919 × 2 years = $19,838 total. Median earnings $53,557 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $5,197 a year of premium. $19,838 ÷ $5,197 = 3.8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $84,102. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Northern Virginia Community College students graduate with?
A median $11,000 in federal loans among completers, or 21% of the $53,557 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Northern Virginia Community College students graduate?
33% finish their degree — 67% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $19,838 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $60,115 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Northern Virginia Community College expensive compared with other Virginia colleges?
Its $9,919 net price runs $9,147 below the $19,066 median across the 81 Virginia colleges we profile, and $18,294 less across the full degree.