Northern Virginia Community College vs Radford University
A side-by-side look at cost, graduate earnings, debt and return on investment. The better figure in each row is highlighted.
| Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA | Radford University Radford, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Break-even |
| 10-year ROI | +337% | +40% |
| 10-year net gain | $80,444 | $26,912 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $55,429 | $54,397 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $37,783 | $45,380 |
| Average net price | $9,919 | $14,578 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $24,000 |
| Break-even | 2.3 yrs | 7.1 yrs |
| Graduation rate | — | 49% |
| Admission rate | — | 90% |
Northern Virginia Community College
Strong return
+$80,444 over 10 years
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
Radford University
Break-even
+$26,912 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.