Blue Ridge Community College vs South University-Richmond: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Blue Ridge Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,644 against a $55,988 total, vs $34,421 at South University-Richmond. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Blue Ridge Community College | South University-Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,997 | $30,442 |
| Total net cost | $55,988 | $121,768 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,644 | $34,421 |
| Median debt | $10,409 | $26,123 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$170,308 | -$400,548 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Blue Ridge Community College or South University-Richmond?
Blue Ridge Community College, at $13,997 a year after aid versus $30,442 — a gap of $16,445 a year, or $65,780 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 South University-Richmond graduates earn more?
Blue Ridge Community College graduates report a median $42,644 ten years after entry, $8,223 more than the $34,421 at South University-Richmond. 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 South University-Richmond?
Blue Ridge Community College: its completers carry a median $10,409 in federal loans versus $26,123 at South University-Richmond, a difference of $15,714. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at South University-Richmond, 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.