Degree Dividend
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Belmont Abbey College vs Carteret Community College: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Belmont NC · vs · Public, Morehead City NC

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Belmont Abbey College comes closer — median earnings $47,937 against a $98,556 total, vs $33,357 at Carteret Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureBelmont Abbey CollegeCarteret Community College
Net price / yr$24,639$10,764
Total net cost$98,556$43,056
Median earnings, 10 yrs$47,937$33,357
Median debt$26,000
Payback
20-year net return-$107,016-$343,116

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Belmont Abbey College or Carteret Community College?

Carteret Community College, at $10,764 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $13,875 a year, or $55,500 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Belmont Abbey College or Carteret Community College graduates earn more?

Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $14,580 more than the $33,357 at Carteret 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?

49% of students finish at Carteret Community College, against 47% at Belmont Abbey 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.

Belmont Abbey College vs Carteret Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Belmont Abbey College or Carteret Community College a better value?
Belmont Abbey College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Belmont Abbey College or Carteret Community College?
Carteret Community College: $10,764/yr net price after aid versus $24,639/yr at Belmont Abbey College — a difference of $13,875 a year, or about $55,500 over four years.
Do Belmont Abbey College or Carteret Community College graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates earn a median $47,937 ten years after entry, versus $33,357 at Carteret Community College — a $14,580 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.