Belmont Abbey College vs Johnson C Smith University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Belmont Abbey College comes closer — median earnings $47,937 against a $98,556 total, vs $42,680 at Johnson C Smith University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Belmont Abbey College | Johnson C Smith University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,639 | $20,894 |
| Total net cost | $98,556 | $83,576 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,937 | $42,680 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $30,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$107,016 | -$197,176 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Belmont Abbey College or Johnson C Smith University?
Johnson C Smith University, at $20,894 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $3,745 a year, or $14,980 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 Johnson C Smith University graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $5,257 more than the $42,680 at Johnson C Smith University. 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, Belmont Abbey College or Johnson C Smith University?
Belmont Abbey College: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $30,000 at Johnson C Smith University, a difference of $4,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
47% of students finish at Belmont Abbey College, against 34% at Johnson C Smith University. 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.