William & Mary vs Virginia Military Institute: which has better ROI?
Virginia Military Institute has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $68,452 in 2.4 years versus 3 years at William & Mary, on median earnings of $77,369 vs $73,490 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | William & Mary | Virginia Military Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,096 | $17,113 |
| Total net cost | $76,384 | $68,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $73,490 | $77,369 |
| Median debt | $18,500 | $22,996 |
| Payback | 3 yrs | 2.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $426,216 | $511,728 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, William & Mary or Virginia Military Institute?
Virginia Military Institute, at $17,113 a year after aid versus $19,096 — a gap of $1,983 a year, or $7,932 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 Virginia Military Institute graduates earn more?
Virginia Military Institute graduates report a median $77,369 ten years after entry, $3,879 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 Virginia Military Institute?
William & Mary: its completers carry a median $18,500 in federal loans versus $22,996 at Virginia Military Institute, a difference of $4,496. 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 76% at Virginia Military Institute. 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.