Blue Ridge Community and Technical College vs Salem University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Blue Ridge Community and Technical College comes closer — median earnings $39,293 against a $9,282 total, vs $34,642 at Salem University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Blue Ridge Community and Technical College | Salem University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,641 | $12,303 |
| Total net cost | $9,282 | $49,212 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,293 | $34,642 |
| Median debt | $13,000 | $24,694 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$190,622 | -$323,572 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College or Salem University?
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, at $4,641 a year after aid versus $12,303 — a gap of $7,662 a year, or $39,930 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Blue Ridge Community and Technical College or Salem University graduates earn more?
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College graduates report a median $39,293 ten years after entry, $4,651 more than the $34,642 at Salem University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College or Salem University?
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College: its completers carry a median $13,000 in federal loans versus $24,694 at Salem University, a difference of $11,694. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
32% of students finish at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, against 20% at Salem University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.