Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Belmont University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Nashville, TN · 7,137 students

The verdict

Belmont University charges a net price of $33,147/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $132,588. Graduates earn a median $55,930 ten years after entry, $7,570/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 17.5 years — a 20-year net return of $18,812, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share

Belmont University's 17.5-year payback ranks #1,019 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 20% of them, and #12 of 91 in Tennessee.

Better ROI than 20% of US colleges#1,019 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$33,147
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$55,930
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
17.5 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
95%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Belmont University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$33,147/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$132,588our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$55,930Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$7,570/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$20,500Scorecard, 2026
Payback17.5 yrsour math
20-year net return$18,812our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Belmont University's own numbers. Net price $33,147 × 4 years = $132,588 total. Median earnings $55,930 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $7,570 a year of premium. $132,588 ÷ $7,570 = 17.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $18,812. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do Belmont University students graduate with?

A median $20,500 in federal loans among completers, or 37% of the $55,930 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Belmont University students graduate?

71% finish their degree. Spread the $132,588 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $186,744 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Belmont University expensive compared with other Tennessee colleges?

Its $33,147 net price runs $17,878 above the $15,269 median across the 91 Tennessee colleges we profile, or $71,512 more across the full degree.

Belmont University: frequently asked questions

Is Belmont University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Belmont University charges $33,147/yr after aid ($132,588 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $55,930 ten years out — $7,570/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 17.5 years and returns $18,812 net over 20 years, a slow but positive payback.
How long does a Belmont University degree take to pay off?
About 17.5 years. We divide the $132,588 four-year net cost by the $7,570/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Belmont University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $33,147/yr — about $132,588 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Belmont University compare to other Tennessee colleges?
It ranks #12 of 91 Tennessee colleges we track by payback. Its $55,930 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $33,147 net price is above the national median of $16,902.