Piedmont Virginia Community College vs Blue Ridge Community College: 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 $42,644 at Blue Ridge Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Piedmont Virginia Community College | Blue Ridge Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,963 | $13,997 |
| Total net cost | $11,926 | $55,988 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,752 | $42,644 |
| Median debt | $8,750 | $10,409 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$164,086 | -$170,308 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Piedmont Virginia Community College or Blue Ridge Community College?
Piedmont Virginia Community College, at $5,963 a year after aid versus $13,997 — a gap of $8,034 a year, or $44,062 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 Blue Ridge Community College graduates earn more?
Blue Ridge Community College graduates report a median $42,644 ten years after entry, $1,892 more than the $40,752 at Piedmont 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, Piedmont Virginia Community College or Blue Ridge Community College?
Piedmont Virginia Community College: its completers carry a median $8,750 in federal loans versus $10,409 at Blue Ridge Community College, a difference of $1,659. 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 Piedmont 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.