Belhaven University vs Rust College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Belhaven University comes closer — median earnings $46,440 against a $62,704 total, vs $32,275 at Rust College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Belhaven University | Rust College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,676 | $12,587 |
| Total net cost | $62,704 | $50,348 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,440 | $32,275 |
| Median debt | $26,333 | $26,159 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$101,104 | -$372,048 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Belhaven University or Rust College?
Rust College, at $12,587 a year after aid versus $15,676 — a gap of $3,089 a year, or $12,356 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Belhaven University or Rust College graduates earn more?
Belhaven University graduates report a median $46,440 ten years after entry, $14,165 more than the $32,275 at Rust 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, Belhaven University or Rust College?
Rust College: its completers carry a median $26,159 in federal loans versus $26,333 at Belhaven University, a difference of $174. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
49% of students finish at Belhaven University, against 12% at Rust 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.