College ROI for Students in Fairfax County, VA

Is college worth it in Fairfax County? Here's the financial analysis.

Public In-State/yr

$46,453

Public Out-of-State/yr

$81,627

Private/yr

$116,579

Payback Period

2 yrs

ROI Comparison

4-Year Public University

Total Cost (4 yrs)$185,812
Annual Earnings Premium$94,357
Payback Period2 years

20-Year Net Return$1,701,328

4-Year Private University

Total Cost (4 yrs)$466,316
Annual Earnings Premium$108,511
Payback Period4.3 years

20-Year Net Return$1,703,895

About Fairfax County, Virginia

Fairfax County in Virginia has a median household income of $145,165 and a population of 1,145,354. The college earnings premium in this region makes a public university degree pay back in approximately 2 years.

These estimates use regional cost and earnings data. Actual ROI varies enormously by major, institution, completion rate, and career path. Our Monte Carlo simulation models degree-specific outcomes, student loan scenarios, and alternative investment paths.

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Other Counties in Virginia

County-level data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2022 5-Year Estimates. Additional sources: NCES IPEDS, College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Estimates based on regional data. This is not financial advice.