University of Virginia's College at Wise
#2 Best Online Colleges in Virginia- Graduation Rate
- 48% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,325 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $9,210 B+
- 46% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 29% A
- Admits roughly 29% — highly selective
Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 28.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $28.7 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Online Colleges in Virginia.
Every $1 spent returns $28.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,021,263.
What The Data Says
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A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Social mobility rate of 2.49% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $28.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of Virginia's College at Wise Matters
University of Virginia's College at Wise is a public liberal arts college in Wise, VA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by selective admissions and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,101
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Social Sciences, Health Professions, Business & Marketing
Why students choose University of Virginia's College at Wise
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 29% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 945–1120. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $9,210 a year after grants and scholarships — 46% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,325 ten years after enrolling — 11% above the typical college, against $16,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 17% nationally for mobility.
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of just over 1,100 students and an acceptance rate of 29%, the University of Virginia's College at Wise is a good fit for those looking for a close-knit community while still receiving a solid education. Students here often dive into programs like Social Sciences, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, and English & Literature. This variety allows individuals to explore their interests and gain practical skills that can serve them well in their careers.
Looking at life after graduation, the average earnings for alumni 10 years out is $45,325. This figure is important because it gives a glimpse into the financial paths students can take. While the graduation rate sits at 48%, the earning potential suggests that those who do complete their degrees can expect to find stable jobs. The financial aspect is also manageable, especially considering that 40% of students receive Pell Grants, which can ease the burden of tuition and living expenses.
When we talk about cost, the net price after aid is around $9,210, which is relatively affordable given the benefits of a college education. The median debt for graduates stands at $16,750, which is reasonable compared to many other institutions. Students who thrive here often appreciate the supportive environment and the emphasis on practical application of their studies, making it a solid choice for those ready to engage deeply with their education.
Rankings
- #2 Best Online Colleges in Virginia
- #3 Best Colleges in Virginia
- #3 Best Nursing Colleges in Virginia
- #4 Best Bachelor's Programs in Virginia
- #4 Best Master's Programs in Virginia
- #6 Most Affordable Colleges for English
- #6 Best Social Mobility Colleges for Public Health
- #6 Best Business Colleges in Virginia
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Virginia's College at Wise is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Virginia's College at Wise? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University of Virginia's College at Wise, located in Wise, Virginia, reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 29%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,050. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 29%
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- SAT Average
- 1050
- ACT Midpoint
- 22
- SAT Range
- 945–1120
- ACT Range
- 18–22
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,197
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.87
- First-Gen Students
- 37%
- Applicants
- 835
- Admitted
- 631
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Virginia's College at Wise? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Virginia's College at Wise is $28,010, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,210. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,891 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $11,780
- Out-of-State
- $28,010
- Avg Net Price
- $9,210
- Median Debt
- $16,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 40%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 23%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,891
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,668
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,455
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,176
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Virginia's College at Wise — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Virginia's College at Wise Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Virginia's College at Wise earn a median of $45,325, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,725
- 8 Years
- $41,513
- 10 Years
- $45,325
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.37x
- Earning > $25K
- 60%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (94)
- 31%
- 100% (94)
- 31%
- 100% (94)
- 31%
- 100% (94)
- 31%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Virginia's College at Wise Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Virginia's College at Wise delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,210/year ($36,840 total). Graduates earn $45,325 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,058,103 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,021,263 (28.7× your investment). The median debt is $16,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 48% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $36,840
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,058,103
- Net Return
- $1,021,263
- ROI Multiple
- 28.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,210
- Median Debt
- $16,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 48%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does University of Virginia's College at Wise Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Virginia's College at Wise is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.49%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $69,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.49%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 19.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 13.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $94,970
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,614,711
- Investment Income
- $-6,425,522
Top Programs
The fields University of Virginia's College at Wise awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 30% $23,930 early-career
- Social Sciences 21%
- Health Professions 17% $65,959 early-career
- Business & Marketing 16% $36,378 early-career
- English & Literature 7%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
- Mathematics & Statistics 1%
- Engineering 0%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Virginia's College at Wise's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Virginia's College at Wise? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University of Virginia's College at Wise, located in Wise, Virginia, reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 29%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,050. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Virginia's College at Wise? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Virginia's College at Wise is $28,010, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,210. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,891 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,750 in federal student loans.
Is University of Virginia's College at Wise Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Virginia's College at Wise earn a median of $45,325, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does University of Virginia's College at Wise Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Virginia's College at Wise is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.49%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $69,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Virginia's College at Wise.
- Brescia UniversityOwensboro, KY · Close peer51% grad $45,500 earn 35% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Dickinson State UniversityDickinson, ND · Close peer47% grad $50,720 earn 37% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- West Virginia University Institute of TechnologyBeckley, WV · Close peer34% grad $55,939 earn 37% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar net price
- Berea CollegeBerea, KY · Close peer60% grad $43,150 earn 19% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Fisk UniversityNashville, TN · Close peer35% grad $45,454 earn 37% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Oakwood UniversityHuntsville, AL · Close peer47% grad $42,488 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
