West Virginia University at Parkersburg vs Blue Ridge Community and Technical College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Blue Ridge Community and Technical College comes closer — median earnings $39,293 against a $9,282 total, vs $35,171 at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | West Virginia University at Parkersburg | Blue Ridge Community and Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $1,807 | $4,641 |
| Total net cost | $3,614 | $9,282 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,171 | $39,293 |
| Median debt | $12,570 | $13,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$267,394 | -$190,622 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, West Virginia University at Parkersburg or Blue Ridge Community and Technical College?
West Virginia University at Parkersburg, at $1,807 a year after aid versus $4,641 — a gap of $2,834 a year, or $5,668 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 University at Parkersburg or Blue Ridge Community and Technical College graduates earn more?
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College graduates report a median $39,293 ten years after entry, $4,122 more than the $35,171 at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. 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 University at Parkersburg or Blue Ridge Community and Technical College?
West Virginia University at Parkersburg: its completers carry a median $12,570 in federal loans versus $13,000 at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, a difference of $430. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
32% of students finish at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, against 9% at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. 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.