Blue Ridge Community and Technical College vs West Virginia Junior College-Charleston: 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 $27,472 at West Virginia Junior College-Charleston. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Blue Ridge Community and Technical College | West Virginia Junior College-Charleston |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,641 | $12,887 |
| Total net cost | $9,282 | $25,774 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,293 | $27,472 |
| Median debt | $13,000 | $8,270 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$190,622 | -$443,534 |
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 West Virginia Junior College-Charleston?
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, at $4,641 a year after aid versus $12,887 — a gap of $8,246 a year, or $16,492 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 West Virginia Junior College-Charleston graduates earn more?
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College graduates report a median $39,293 ten years after entry, $11,821 more than the $27,472 at West Virginia Junior College-Charleston. 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 West Virginia Junior College-Charleston?
West Virginia Junior College-Charleston: its completers carry a median $8,270 in federal loans versus $13,000 at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, a difference of $4,730. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
60% of students finish at West Virginia Junior College-Charleston, against 32% at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College. 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.