Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University vs William & Mary: 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 years at William & Mary, on median earnings of $81,698 vs $73,490 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | William & Mary |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,953 | $19,096 |
| Total net cost | $99,812 | $76,384 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $81,698 | $73,490 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $18,500 |
| Payback | 3 yrs | 3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $566,948 | $426,216 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University or William & Mary?
William & Mary, at $19,096 a year after aid versus $24,953 — a gap of $5,857 a year, or $23,428 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University or William & Mary graduates earn more?
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University graduates report a median $81,698 ten years after entry, $8,208 more than the $73,490 at William & Mary. 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, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University or William & Mary?
William & Mary: its completers carry a median $18,500 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a difference of $3,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
89% of students finish at William & Mary, against 86% at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State 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.