William & Mary — ROI, Cost & Payback
William & Mary charges a net price of $19,096/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $76,384. Graduates earn a median $73,490 ten years after entry, $25,130/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 3 years — a 20-year net return of $426,216, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
William & Mary's 3-year payback ranks #188 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 85% of them, and #8 of 81 in Virginia.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $19,096/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $76,384 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $73,490 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $25,130/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $18,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $426,216 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on William & Mary's own numbers. Net price $19,096 × 4 years = $76,384 total. Median earnings $73,490 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $25,130 a year of premium. $76,384 ÷ $25,130 = 3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $426,216. 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 William & Mary students graduate with?
A median $18,500 in federal loans among completers, or 25% of the $73,490 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of William & Mary students graduate?
89% finish their degree. Spread the $76,384 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $85,825 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is William & Mary expensive compared with other Virginia colleges?
Its $19,096 net price runs $30 above the $19,066 median across the 81 Virginia colleges we profile, or $120 more across the full degree.