Averett University
Danville, Virginia · Private Nonprofit · 56.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 37/100 · Poor Value
Averett University scores 37 ROI and lands in Poor Value tier. Sticker tuition is $38,550, net price after aid is $22,925, and total four-year cost runs $91,700. Median earnings ten years out are $51,516, producing a 14-year payback period and a 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio against $25,000 in median debt. The earnings premium of 0.18 is weak, completion sits at 48.1% (better than several peers but still below 50%), and repayment runs 62.1% — meaning nearly four in ten former students are not on schedule paying down loans. The school's strongest sub-score is debt-to-earnings (46), held there mostly by relatively contained borrowing rather than by strong earnings. This is the classic small-Virginia-private profile: meaningful aid discount off sticker, but the net price still exceeds what comparable Virginia public options charge, and earnings outcomes haven't kept pace. The bright spots are concentrated in nursing and business; the broader liberal-arts and kinesiology programs face tougher financial math.
The data raises concerns about Averett University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score37/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
Averett University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $38,550/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $38,550/yr |
| Average net price | $22,925/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $91,700 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,516 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 14 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 48.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,231 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Averett University is $38,550/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $22,925/year, or roughly $91,700 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $23,064/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,810/year.
The median graduate leaves with $25,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $265 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $51,516 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.62 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $23,064 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,990 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,023 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,959 |
| $110,001+ | $28,810 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $23,064 — actually more than the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays ($16,990). This is an inverted bracket pattern, likely reflecting how some forms of aid phase in oddly at the very bottom of the income distribution. Either way, $23K/year against a $51,516 ten-year earnings median is a tough math. Pell-eligible students should compare against Old Dominion or Virginia Commonwealth.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket gets the campus's best deal at $16,990 net, climbing to $19,023 for $48,001-$75,000 and $21,959 for $75,001-$110,000. This is the income range where Averett's aid is most competitive against public alternatives, though four-year totals of $68,000-$88,000 still demand a strong career outcome to justify.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $28,810 — close to but still below the $38,550 sticker. At $115,000 over four years against modest median earnings, this is the income tier where the conventional ROI math is weakest. A high-income family should ask what Averett offers that the University of Virginia, William & Mary, or Virginia Tech doesn't.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at Averett University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $84,065 | - |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $50,346 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $72,810 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $52,318 | C |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $54,637 | C+ |
| Accounting | $64,192 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Averett's largest and strongest program with 60 graduates. First-year median of $63,961 climbs to $84,065 by year four — solid earnings reflecting nursing market strength. Median debt is unreported, but the absence of a D-grade flag suggests it's contained. This program is the best argument for Averett's price tag, especially for students locked into Southside Virginia hospitals (Sovah Health, etc.) for clinical placements.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology is the second-largest program at 37 graduates but has the campus's weakest financial profile: first-year earnings of $36,908 against $28,000 in debt produce a 0.759 ratio and a D grade. Many graduates are athletes who chose the major incidentally; those who don't continue to PT or athletic-training graduate school face thin labor-market prospects. This is the highest-risk major at Averett's price.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business produced 26 graduates with first-year earnings of $60,150 climbing to $72,810, against $31,271 in debt — a C+ grade and 0.52 ratio. The earnings trajectory is genuinely strong for a small private; the debt level is moderately above the campus median. Defensible for students aiming at regional Virginia employers, though comparable outcomes are available at JMU and VCU at lower net price.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduated 25 with first-year earnings of $43,494 against $29,703 in debt — a C grade and 0.683 ratio. The four-year earnings of $52,318 indicate slow growth. Federal LEO and Virginia state-trooper roles offer reasonable mid-career income, but the entry-level math is tight. Students should target federal pathways early.
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
Health/Med Prep produced 10 graduates with four-year earnings of $54,637 against $27,000 in debt — a C+ grade. This is fundamentally a pre-professional pathway where the standalone earnings number understates outcomes for students continuing to PA, DPT, or medical school. The relevant question for prospective students: what's the graduate-school placement rate?
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 55.1% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 62.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 56.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 63.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 56.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 478-560 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 448-583 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 15-28 |
| Enrollment | 1,231 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 41.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,196 |
Averett admits 56.6% of applicants — moderately selective, leaning open. SAT mid-ranges are 478-560 in math and 448-583 in reading, with ACT 15-28. The wide ACT range (15-28) suggests Averett admits a heterogeneous student body, from well-prepared regional students to those needing significant academic support. This explains the 48.1% completion rate: better-prepared students mostly finish; weaker-prepared cohorts don't. Test-optional policies and athletic recruiting expand the bottom of the academic range.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Averett's peer set — Bluefield University, Bridgewater College, Geneva College, Our Lady of the Lake University, and University of Pikeville — is a tight cohort of small Christian liberal-arts schools in Appalachia and adjacent regions. Bridgewater College tends to outperform on completion and earnings; Bluefield and Pikeville sit at or below Averett's level. Geneva College's outcomes are roughly comparable. Within this cohort, Averett's 37 ROI is mid-pack — not the worst, but well behind the strongest peer.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Averett University (this school) | 37 | $22,925 | $51,516 |
| Bridgewater College | 49 | $17,800 | $53,453 |
| Geneva College | 38 | $25,890 | $50,004 |
| Our Lady of the Lake University | 35 | $16,442 | $48,675 |
| University of Pikeville | 33 | $20,311 | $48,231 |
| Bluefield University | 32 | $25,573 | $48,896 |
Who Thrives Here
With 1,231 students and a 41.1% Pell rate, Averett serves a meaningful share of lower-income students in Southside Virginia, an economically distressed region. Strong outcomes concentrate in nursing (60 graduates) and business (26) — students who arrive with a clear professional track. Athletic recruits make up a notable portion of enrollment. The honest fit profile: students recruited for nursing, NCAA Division III athletics, or specific Christian community fit. Undecided students at full-price brackets face the worst math here.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Averett University. With a net cost of $22,925 per year and median graduate earnings of only $51,516 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 14 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 48.1% graduation rate and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,000 against $51,516 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.