Blue Ridge Community College vs Ferrum College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Ferrum College comes closer — median earnings $44,296 against a $80,328 total, vs $42,644 at Blue Ridge Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Blue Ridge Community College | Ferrum College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,997 | $20,082 |
| Total net cost | $55,988 | $80,328 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,644 | $44,296 |
| Median debt | $10,409 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$170,308 | -$161,608 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Blue Ridge Community College or Ferrum College?
Blue Ridge Community College, at $13,997 a year after aid versus $20,082 — a gap of $6,085 a year, or $24,340 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 Ferrum College graduates earn more?
Ferrum College graduates report a median $44,296 ten years after entry, $1,652 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 Ferrum College?
Blue Ridge Community College: its completers carry a median $10,409 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Ferrum College, a difference of $16,591. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
40% of students finish at Blue Ridge Community College, against 32% at Ferrum 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.