At $11,180/yr net price, University of Virginia's College at Wise graduates earn $45,325/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $11,325/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $11,180 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $44,720 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,325/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$11,325/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.9 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 49.8% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $16,750 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $15,634/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,448/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $7,159/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $9,605/yr |
| $110,001+ | $11,647/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $55,512 | |
| Education, General. | Bachelor | $35,060 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor | $34,171 | $19,313 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $30,616 | $14,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $30,409 | |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor | $30,228 | |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor | $26,896 | |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $22,087 | $18,031 |
| History. | Bachelor | $20,140 |
The Risk Factor
49.8% of students at University of Virginia's College at Wise graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
UVA-Wise gives you a low-cost degree with modest earnings, and the math works only if you keep debt down and pick the right major. At $11,180 a year net and median debt under $17,000, you are not taking on a heavy financial load. But median earnings ten years out sit around $45,000, so this is a school where the payoff comes from spending little, not from earning a lot.
Nursing is the clear winner here. It pays roughly $55,500, more than $20,000 above what education, criminal justice, business, and accounting graduates earn. If you enroll for nursing and finish, the return is solid. The other four bachelor's programs listed all land in the low $30,000s, which is close to what many jobs pay without a degree at all. Criminal justice is the worst deal on paper: it carries the highest debt of the group at over $19,000 and pays about $34,000.
The biggest risk is finishing. Half of students don't graduate within the standard window, and about one in four don't return after the first year. Debt with no degree is the outcome that sinks the ROI here.
The net price tiers reward middle-income families most. If your family earns between $30,000 and $75,000, you pay around $6,500 to $7,200 a year. Oddly, if your family earns under $30,000, you pay more than $15,000, the highest tier of all, so the aid does not stretch to cover the lowest-income households.
This school fits you if you want nursing, live in southwest Virginia, and need to keep costs low. If you're set on business, accounting, or criminal justice and are borrowing to do it, look harder at whether the salary justifies the loan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of Virginia's College at Wise worth the cost?
UVA Wise offers decent value with a low net price of $11,180 and manageable debt of $16,750, but the 10-year median earnings of $45,325 are below average for college graduates. The nursing program shows strong ROI with graduates earning $55,512, while other programs lag significantly.
What are the best paying majors at University of Virginia's College at Wise?
Nursing is the clear winner at UVA Wise with graduates earning $55,512 annually. Education majors earn $35,060 while business and criminal justice graduates start around $30,000-34,000, which is low for college-level careers.
How much student debt do University of Virginia's College at Wise graduates have?
UVA Wise graduates have a median debt of $16,750, which is relatively low compared to national averages. However, with many graduates earning around $30,000-35,000 in non-nursing fields, even this modest debt burden can be challenging to manage.
What is the graduation rate at University of Virginia's College at Wise?
Only 49.8% of students graduate from UVA Wise, meaning half of students leave without a degree. This low completion rate increases the risk of taking on debt without the earning potential that comes with finishing college.