Virginia Wesleyan University vs Sweet Briar College: which has better ROI?
Sweet Briar College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $71,032 in 19.8 years versus 45.9 years at Virginia Wesleyan University, on median earnings of $51,943 vs $50,074 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Virginia Wesleyan University | Sweet Briar College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,676 | $17,758 |
| Total net cost | $78,704 | $71,032 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,074 | $51,943 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 45.9 yrs | 19.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$44,424 | $628 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Virginia Wesleyan University or Sweet Briar College?
Sweet Briar College, at $17,758 a year after aid versus $19,676 — a gap of $1,918 a year, or $7,672 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 Wesleyan University or Sweet Briar College graduates earn more?
Sweet Briar College graduates report a median $51,943 ten years after entry, $1,869 more than the $50,074 at Virginia Wesleyan 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, Virginia Wesleyan University or Sweet Briar College?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
52% of students finish at Sweet Briar College, against 42% at Virginia Wesleyan 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.