Belmont Abbey College vs Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte: 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 $43,418 at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Belmont Abbey College | Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,639 | $27,426 |
| Total net cost | $98,556 | $54,852 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,937 | $43,418 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$107,016 | -$153,692 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Belmont Abbey College or Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte?
Belmont Abbey College, at $24,639 a year after aid versus $27,426 — a gap of $2,787 a year, or $43,704 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 & Wales University-Charlotte graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $4,519 more than the $43,418 at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte. 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 & Wales University-Charlotte?
Completers at both borrow a median $26,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
49% of students finish at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte, 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.