Barton College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Barton College charges a net price of $23,626/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $94,504. Median earnings ten years after entry are $47,913, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Barton College does not clear its cost — it ranks #26 of 115 North Carolina colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $23,626/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $94,504 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $47,913 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$447/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,877 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$103,444 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Barton College's own numbers. Net price $23,626 × 4 years = $94,504 total. Median earnings $47,913 fall $447 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $94,504 bill in about 9.5 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Barton College students graduate with?
A median $25,877 in federal loans among completers, or 54% of the $47,913 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Barton College students graduate?
46% finish their degree — 54% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $94,504 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $205,443 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Barton College expensive compared with other North Carolina colleges?
Its $23,626 net price runs $12,780 above the $10,846 median across the 115 North Carolina colleges we profile, or $51,120 more across the full degree.