University of Virginia's College at Wise — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of Virginia's College at Wise charges a net price of $9,210/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $36,840. Median earnings ten years after entry are $45,325, 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, University of Virginia's College at Wise does not clear its cost — it ranks #36 of 81 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) | $9,210/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $36,840 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $45,325 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$3,035/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $16,750 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$97,540 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of Virginia's College at Wise's own numbers. Net price $9,210 × 4 years = $36,840 total. Median earnings $45,325 fall $3,035 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 $36,840 bill in about 3.7 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do University of Virginia's College at Wise students graduate with?
A median $16,750 in federal loans among completers, or 37% of the $45,325 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of University of Virginia's College at Wise students graduate?
47% finish their degree — 53% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $36,840 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $78,383 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of Virginia's College at Wise expensive compared with other Virginia colleges?
Its $9,210 net price runs $9,856 below the $19,066 median across the 81 Virginia colleges we profile, and $39,424 less across the full degree.