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

Private nonprofit, Belmont NC · vs · Public, Spindale 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 $33,325 at Isothermal Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureBelmont Abbey CollegeIsothermal Community College
Net price / yr$24,639$10,758
Total net cost$98,556$43,032
Median earnings, 10 yrs$47,937$33,325
Median debt$26,000
Payback
20-year net return-$107,016-$343,732

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

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

Isothermal Community College, at $10,758 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $13,881 a year, or $55,524 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 Isothermal Community College graduates earn more?

Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $14,612 more than the $33,325 at Isothermal 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?

55% of students finish at Isothermal 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 Isothermal Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Belmont Abbey College or Isothermal 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 Isothermal Community College?
Isothermal Community College: $10,758/yr net price after aid versus $24,639/yr at Belmont Abbey College — a difference of $13,881 a year, or about $55,524 over four years.
Do Belmont Abbey College or Isothermal Community College graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates earn a median $47,937 ten years after entry, versus $33,325 at Isothermal Community College — a $14,612 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.