Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Virginia's College At Wise #688 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $16,797 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Virginia's College At Wise in the 8.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Virginia's College At Wise #1013 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Virginia's College At Wise's composite ranking reflects its balance of access and mobility working together. The institution serves a regional student population with strong outcomes relative to its public-tuition pricing.
Azimuth ranks University of Virginia's College At Wise #688 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 53.6 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public baccalaureate college in Wise, Virginia, University of Virginia's College At Wise enrolls roughly 1,101 undergraduates. Retention is 71.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 47.1%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional institution serving a largely first-generation and working-class student body. University of Virginia's College At Wise delivers meaningful returns on investment for its students. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $47,686, placing the institution in the 9.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Virginia's College At Wise #1311 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 11.4 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's strength in liberal arts education translates into outcomes that compare favorably with peer regional institutions, supporting graduates into stable career pathways. Access and affordability anchor the institution's value proposition. 39.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 36.8% are first-generation college students, reflecting University of Virginia's College At Wise's role as an accessible pathway to degree completion and upward mobility in southwestern Virginia. For students seeking a small, affordable liberal arts education with strong local and regional employer connections, University of Virginia's College At Wise offers a direct route to employment and economic stability without the debt burden of higher-cost alternatives.
University of Virginia's College at Wise has a published cost of attendance of $26,593. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $8,891, middle-income families pay around $7,455, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,176. Azimuth ranks University of Virginia's College At Wise #77 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. The college's public tuition structure and need-based aid reach make it accessible across income levels. Most students receive need-based financial aid, and the institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The gap between published cost and net price reflects the aid available to qualifying families, though the size of that gap varies by income level. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $16,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,555; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $47,686, median federal debt of $16,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $189 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Virginia's College At Wise is a strong fit for students seeking a liberal arts education at a public university in VA's Appalachian region. Its program mix leans heavily toward Liberal Arts, making it a good choice for students interested in foundational fields like English, history, and the social sciences. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $47,686, placing University of Virginia's College At Wise in the 9.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $16,797 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 8.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 39.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 36.8% are first-generation — and delivers low-income graduate earnings in the 43.9 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Published cost of attendance is $26,593 and low-income families pay a net price of approximately $8,891 after need-based aid. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 28.5% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix favors foundational fields over applied-professional ones. Students whose interests align with those areas will find the earnings trajectory and aid package competitive in the Azimuth coverage set in VA.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
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This is the University Of Virginia's College At Wise hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Virginia's College at Wise has a published cost of attendance of $26,593. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $8,891, middle-income families pay around $7,455, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,176.
Azimuth ranks University of Virginia's College At Wise #77 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
The college's public tuition structure and need-based aid reach make it accessible across income levels. Most students receive need-based financial aid, and the institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
The gap between published cost and net price reflects the aid available to qualifying families, though the size of that gap varies by income level. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $16,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,555; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $47,686, median federal debt of $16,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $189 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of Virginia's College At Wise earn median 4-year earnings of $47,686, placing the institution in the 9.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $16,797 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Virginia's College At Wise in the 8.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of Virginia's College At Wise #1311 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects University of Virginia's College At Wise's liberal arts foundation and regional labor-market positioning.
General Studies is the largest program with 62 graduates, followed by Social Sciences with 55 graduates and Business/Commerce, General with 31 graduates. These foundational fields anchor the institution's degree output and connect graduates to stable regional career pathways.
The college's program mix, centered on Liberal Arts, supports outcomes that align with the broader labor-market context of southwestern Virginia and the wider region.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
23 graduates
History
14 graduates
University of Virginia's College At Wise's program mix centers on the liberal arts — a signature that shapes both the breadth and the character of student outcomes. General Studies is the largest program with 62 graduates, followed by Social Sciences, Business/Commerce, General, Nursing, and Biological and Physical Sciences.
Across 9 programs serving roughly 229 students annually, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. The institution's dominant concentration in Liberal Arts reflects its identity as a comprehensive liberal arts college within the University of Virginia system.
The program portfolio emphasizes breadth across humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences rather than specialized vocational or technical depth. This liberal arts orientation means that earnings outcomes tend to cluster in the moderate range for four-year post-graduation earnings, with strength concentrated in fields that build analytical and communication skills — areas where liberal arts graduates often see upward mobility in the five-to-ten-year window as they move into management, professional services, or advanced study.
The largest programs — General Studies, Social Sciences, and Business/Commerce, General — serve as the institution's economic anchors, enrolling substantial cohorts and feeding into stable regional labor markets. University of Virginia's College At Wise graduates typically enter careers aligned with the region's workforce demand in education, healthcare, business, and public service.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's liberal arts program families align with labor-market trends. For students seeking a broad educational foundation with strong community ties and regional career pathways, the program mix delivers consistent, predictable outcomes rather than high-earning outliers.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Emory & Henry University Same state (43 miles away) with nearly identical earnings and similar program focus | VA | 96% | $47,385 | Compare |
Bluefield University Same state (75 miles away) with similar earnings | VA | 63% | $48,896 | Compare |
East Tennessee State University Same region (47 miles away) with nearly identical earnings; same institution type | TN | 87% | $44,859 | Compare |
Norfolk State University Same state with nearly identical earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | VA | 87% | $44,666 | Compare |
Randolph College Same state (earnings difference: 17.8%) and similar program focus | VA | 95% | $53,409 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Puerto Rico-Carolina Similar quality tier (#22612 ranked) | PR | 55% | $30,626 | #22612 | Compare |
Suny Morrisville Similar quality tier (#23747 ranked) | NY | 92% | $43,295 | #23747 | Compare |
Minnesota State University Moorhead Similar quality tier (#22594 ranked) | MN | 59% | $50,527 | #22594 | Compare |
Northwestern Oklahoma State University Similar quality tier (#22584 ranked) | OK | 65% | $44,358 | #22584 | Compare |
University Of Hawaii At Hilo Similar quality tier (#22582 ranked) | HI | 61% | $47,856 | #22582 | Compare |
