Blue Ridge Community College vs Emory & Henry University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Emory & Henry University comes closer — median earnings $47,385 against a $76,244 total, vs $42,644 at Blue Ridge Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Blue Ridge Community College | Emory & Henry University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,997 | $19,061 |
| Total net cost | $55,988 | $76,244 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,644 | $47,385 |
| Median debt | $10,409 | $26,332 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$170,308 | -$95,744 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Blue Ridge Community College or Emory & Henry University?
Blue Ridge Community College, at $13,997 a year after aid versus $19,061 — a gap of $5,064 a year, or $20,256 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 College or Emory & Henry University graduates earn more?
Emory & Henry University graduates report a median $47,385 ten years after entry, $4,741 more than the $42,644 at Blue Ridge Community College. 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 College or Emory & Henry University?
Blue Ridge Community College: its completers carry a median $10,409 in federal loans versus $26,332 at Emory & Henry University, a difference of $15,923. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
56% of students finish at Emory & Henry University, against 40% at Blue Ridge Community 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.