West Virginia University — ROI, Cost & Payback
West Virginia University charges a net price of $15,634/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $62,536. Graduates earn a median $55,939 ten years after entry, $7,579/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 8.3 years — a 20-year net return of $89,044, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $15,634/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $62,536 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $55,939 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $7,579/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $22,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 8.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $89,044 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 4 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.