William & Mary vs Chamberlain University-Virginia: which has better ROI?
Chamberlain University-Virginia has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $132,796 in 3 years versus 3 years at William & Mary, on median earnings of $92,405 vs $73,490 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | William & Mary | Chamberlain University-Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,096 | $33,199 |
| Total net cost | $76,384 | $132,796 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $73,490 | $92,405 |
| Median debt | $18,500 | $20,919 |
| Payback | 3 yrs | 3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $426,216 | $748,104 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, William & Mary or Chamberlain University-Virginia?
William & Mary, at $19,096 a year after aid versus $33,199 — a gap of $14,103 a year, or $56,412 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do William & Mary or Chamberlain University-Virginia graduates earn more?
Chamberlain University-Virginia graduates report a median $92,405 ten years after entry, $18,915 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, William & Mary or Chamberlain University-Virginia?
William & Mary: its completers carry a median $18,500 in federal loans versus $20,919 at Chamberlain University-Virginia, a difference of $2,419. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
100% of students finish at Chamberlain University-Virginia, against 89% at William & Mary. 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.