At $5,618/yr net price, Virginia Western Community College graduates earn $38,787/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $4,787/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $5,618 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $22,472 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $38,787/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$4,787/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 4.7 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 40.6% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $11,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $4,735/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,260/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,893/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $9,545/yr |
| $110,001+ | $9,383/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | Associate | $61,350 | $9,091 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $53,537 | $12,789 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $48,823 | $12,000 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. | Certificate | $37,568 | $19,039 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Associate | $35,060 | $10,875 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Associate | $33,993 | |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. | Certificate | $29,685 | |
| Legal Support Services. | Associate | $28,019 | |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services. | Associate | $26,933 | |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Certificate | $26,585 | $14,670 |
The Risk Factor
40.6% of students at Virginia Western Community College 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
Virginia Western Community College gives you a low-cost entry point with returns that depend almost entirely on your major. At under $6,000 a year and $11,000 in median debt, you're not risking much money to attend. But the median earnings ten years out sit below $39,000, which tells you the typical graduate lands in a modest-paying job. The 40% graduation rate is the bigger warning: more than half of you won't finish, and a credential you don't complete still costs you time and money.
The health programs are where this school earns its keep. Dental support and registered nursing associate degrees both clear $50,000 while keeping debt around or below $13,000. Those are the programs that turn a two-year investment into a real Roanoke-area paycheck, since the regional hospital and dental market hires locally. Business administration, by contrast, pays about $35,000 with similar debt, so the return there is thin.
Watch the practical nursing certificate. It pays under $38,000 but carries the highest debt on the list at over $19,000, which is a worse debt-to-earnings trade than the full RN degree that pays $16,000 more. If nursing is your goal, the associate degree is the smarter financial path.
Net price barely moves for lower incomes. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay less than $4,800. families over $110,000 pay roughly double that. Either way the sticker cost is low enough that the real question is completion and program choice, not affordability.
This school fits you if you're targeting nursing, dental, or allied health and will finish. If you want business or an open-ended transfer plan, the payoff is weak and you should compare against a four-year target.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Virginia Western Community College worth the cost?
Virginia Western offers solid value with a low net price of $5,618 per year and median debt of just $11,000. However, the 40.6% graduation rate means many students don't finish, and average earnings of $38,787 after 10 years are modest.
What are the best paying programs at Virginia Western Community College?
Dental support programs lead with $61,350 average earnings, followed by registered nursing at $53,537. Business administration graduates earn significantly less at $35,060, making program choice critical for ROI.
How much debt do Virginia Western Community College students graduate with?
The median debt is $11,000, which is manageable for a community college. This low debt load helps offset the modest post-graduation earnings for most programs.
What is the graduation rate at Virginia Western Community College?
Only 40.6% of students graduate, meaning nearly 6 out of 10 students leave without completing their program. This completion risk is the biggest concern for prospective students considering the school's value.