Head-to-head · 2026
Patrick & Henry Community College vs Virginia Military Institute
Compare average net price ($4,102 at Patrick & Henry Community College; $17,113 at Virginia Military Institute), ROI score (20.31 vs 11.30), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($33,323 vs $77,369), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Patrick & Henry Community College; 71.3% at Virginia Military Institute) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | Patrick & Henry Community College | Virginia Military Institute |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 20.31 ✓ | 11.30 |
| Avg net price | $4,102 ✓ | $17,113 |
| 4-year avg net price | $16,408 ✓ | $68,452 |
| In-state tuition | $5,002 | $21,046 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $11,440 | $52,638 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $33,323 | $77,369 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | 71.3% |
| Graduation rate | 41.5% | 76.2% ✓ |
| Retention rate | 62.4% | 81% ✓ |
| Median debt | — | $22,996 |
| Enrollment | 1,350 | 1,527 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | — | 1244 |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | Patrick & Henry Community College | Virginia Military Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $3,671 ✓ | $12,697 |
| Family income $30–48k | $4,008 ✓ | $9,246 |
| Family income $48–75k | $4,832 ✓ | $12,162 |
| Family income $75–110k | $5,820 ✓ | $13,385 |
| Family income $110k+ | $10,498 ✓ | $23,434 |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
No shared field has positive award-share data at both schools in the current federal records. Check each school's official catalog before ruling out a program.
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Patrick & Henry Community College reports the lower average net price by $13,011 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $52,044 difference over four years ($16,408 vs $68,452).
Virginia Military Institute reports $44,046 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($77,369 vs $33,323). This is not earnings for a specific major.
First-year retention is 62.4% at Patrick & Henry Community College and 81% at Virginia Military Institute. Debt data is incomplete for at least one school, so it is not used as a deciding signal here.
The current federal records do not show a shared field with positive award-share data for these schools. That does not prove a program is unavailable; verify offerings with each school.
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Frequently asked
Patrick & Henry Community College vs Virginia Military Institute, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Patrick & Henry Community College is cheaper — average net price $4,102 per year vs $17,113 at Virginia Military Institute. The annual difference of $13,011 adds up to about $52,044 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Virginia Military Institute reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $77,369 vs $33,323 at Patrick & Henry Community College. The gap in the federal data is $44,046. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.