Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Belmont Abbey College vs Cleveland Community College: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Belmont NC · vs · Public, Shelby 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 $33,755 at Cleveland Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureBelmont Abbey CollegeCleveland Community College
Net price / yr$24,639$995
Total net cost$98,556$3,980
Median earnings, 10 yrs$47,937$33,755
Median debt$26,000
Payback
20-year net return-$107,016-$296,080

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

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

Cleveland Community College, at $995 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $23,644 a year, or $94,576 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 Cleveland Community College graduates earn more?

Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $14,182 more than the $33,755 at Cleveland 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?

47% of students finish at Belmont Abbey College, against 32% at Cleveland Community 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 Cleveland Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Belmont Abbey College or Cleveland 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 Cleveland Community College?
Cleveland Community College: $995/yr net price after aid versus $24,639/yr at Belmont Abbey College — a difference of $23,644 a year, or about $94,576 over four years.
Do Belmont Abbey College or Cleveland Community College graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates earn a median $47,937 ten years after entry, versus $33,755 at Cleveland Community College — a $14,182 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.