Barton College vs McDowell Technical Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Barton College comes closer — median earnings $47,913 against a $94,504 total, vs $33,035 at McDowell Technical Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Barton College | McDowell Technical Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,626 | $7,784 |
| Total net cost | $94,504 | $15,568 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,913 | $33,035 |
| Median debt | $25,877 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$103,444 | -$322,068 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Barton College or McDowell Technical Community College?
McDowell Technical Community College, at $7,784 a year after aid versus $23,626 — a gap of $15,842 a year, or $78,936 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Barton College or McDowell Technical Community College graduates earn more?
Barton College graduates report a median $47,913 ten years after entry, $14,878 more than the $33,035 at McDowell Technical Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which graduates more of its students?
48% of students finish at McDowell Technical Community College, against 46% at Barton College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.