J Sargeant Reynolds Community College vs American National University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but J Sargeant Reynolds Community College comes closer — median earnings $39,529 against a $20,672 total, vs $26,370 at American National University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | American National University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,168 | $18,036 |
| Total net cost | $20,672 | $36,072 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,529 | $26,370 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $12,814 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$197,292 | -$475,872 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College or American National University?
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College, at $5,168 a year after aid versus $18,036 — a gap of $12,868 a year, or $15,400 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do J Sargeant Reynolds Community College or American National University graduates earn more?
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College graduates report a median $39,529 ten years after entry, $13,159 more than the $26,370 at American National University. 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, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College or American National University?
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $12,814 at American National University, a difference of $2,314. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
33% of students finish at American National University, against 32% at J Sargeant Reynolds 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.