Piedmont Virginia Community College vs American National University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Piedmont Virginia Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,752 against a $11,926 total, vs $26,370 at American National University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Piedmont Virginia Community College | American National University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,963 | $18,036 |
| Total net cost | $11,926 | $36,072 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,752 | $26,370 |
| Median debt | $8,750 | $12,814 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$164,086 | -$475,872 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Piedmont Virginia Community College or American National University?
Piedmont Virginia Community College, at $5,963 a year after aid versus $18,036 — a gap of $12,073 a year, or $24,146 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Piedmont Virginia Community College or American National University graduates earn more?
Piedmont Virginia Community College graduates report a median $40,752 ten years after entry, $14,382 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, Piedmont Virginia Community College or American National University?
Piedmont Virginia Community College: its completers carry a median $8,750 in federal loans versus $12,814 at American National University, a difference of $4,064. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
39% of students finish at Piedmont Virginia Community College, against 33% at American National 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.