Northern Virginia Community College vs Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: which has better ROI?
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $99,812 in 3 years versus 3.8 years at Northern Virginia Community College, on median earnings of $81,698 vs $53,557 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northern Virginia Community College | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,919 | $24,953 |
| Total net cost | $19,838 | $99,812 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,557 | $81,698 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 3.8 yrs | 3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $84,102 | $566,948 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Northern Virginia Community College or Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?
Northern Virginia Community College, at $9,919 a year after aid versus $24,953 — a gap of $15,034 a year, or $79,974 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Northern Virginia Community College or Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University graduates earn more?
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University graduates report a median $81,698 ten years after entry, $28,141 more than the $53,557 at Northern Virginia 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, Northern Virginia Community College or Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?
Northern Virginia Community College: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a difference of $10,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
86% of students finish at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, against 33% at Northern Virginia 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.