Barton College vs Salem 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 $44,640 at Salem College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Barton College | Salem College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,626 | $18,277 |
| Total net cost | $94,504 | $73,108 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,913 | $44,640 |
| Median debt | $25,877 | $26,649 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$103,444 | -$147,508 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Barton College or Salem College?
Salem College, at $18,277 a year after aid versus $23,626 — a gap of $5,349 a year, or $21,396 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 Salem College graduates earn more?
Barton College graduates report a median $47,913 ten years after entry, $3,273 more than the $44,640 at Salem 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 leaves students with less debt, Barton College or Salem College?
Barton College: its completers carry a median $25,877 in federal loans versus $26,649 at Salem College, a difference of $772. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at Salem 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.