Johnson C Smith University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Johnson C Smith University charges a net price of $20,894/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $83,576. Median earnings ten years after entry are $42,680, 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, Johnson C Smith University does not clear its cost — it ranks #47 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) | $20,894/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $83,576 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $42,680 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$5,680/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $30,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$197,176 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Johnson C Smith University's own numbers. Net price $20,894 × 4 years = $83,576 total. Median earnings $42,680 fall $5,680 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 $83,576 bill in about 8.4 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Johnson C Smith University students graduate with?
A median $30,000 in federal loans among completers, or 70% of the $42,680 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Johnson C Smith University students graduate?
34% finish their degree — 66% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $83,576 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $245,812 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Johnson C Smith University expensive compared with other North Carolina colleges?
Its $20,894 net price runs $10,048 above the $10,846 median across the 115 North Carolina colleges we profile, or $40,192 more across the full degree.