Degree Dividend
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West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown vs Bethany College: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Morgantown WV · vs · Private nonprofit, Bethany WV

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bethany College comes closer — median earnings $44,512 against a $74,420 total, vs $31,912 at West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureWest Virginia Junior College-MorgantownBethany College
Net price / yr$15,520$18,605
Total net cost$31,040$74,420
Median earnings, 10 yrs$31,912$44,512
Median debt$9,881$27,000
Payback
20-year net return-$360,000-$151,380

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown or Bethany College?

West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown, at $15,520 a year after aid versus $18,605 — a gap of $3,085 a year, or $43,380 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown or Bethany College graduates earn more?

Bethany College graduates report a median $44,512 ten years after entry, $12,600 more than the $31,912 at West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown. 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, West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown or Bethany College?

West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown: its completers carry a median $9,881 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Bethany College, a difference of $17,119. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

71% of students finish at West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown, against 47% at Bethany 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.

West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown vs Bethany College: frequently asked questions

Is West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown or Bethany College a better value?
Bethany College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown or Bethany College?
West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown: $15,520/yr net price after aid versus $18,605/yr at Bethany College — a difference of $3,085 a year, or about $43,380 over four years.
Do West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown or Bethany College graduates earn more?
Bethany College graduates earn a median $44,512 ten years after entry, versus $31,912 at West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown — a $12,600 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.