Blue Ridge Community College vs Mary Baldwin University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Mary Baldwin University comes closer — median earnings $44,427 against a $51,024 total, vs $42,644 at Blue Ridge Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Blue Ridge Community College | Mary Baldwin University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,997 | $12,756 |
| Total net cost | $55,988 | $51,024 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,644 | $44,427 |
| Median debt | $10,409 | $26,586 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$170,308 | -$129,684 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Blue Ridge Community College or Mary Baldwin University?
Mary Baldwin University, at $12,756 a year after aid versus $13,997 — a gap of $1,241 a year, or $4,964 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 Mary Baldwin University graduates earn more?
Mary Baldwin University graduates report a median $44,427 ten years after entry, $1,783 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 Mary Baldwin University?
Blue Ridge Community College: its completers carry a median $10,409 in federal loans versus $26,586 at Mary Baldwin University, a difference of $16,177. 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 39% at Mary Baldwin 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.