Belmont Abbey College vs Lees-McRae College: 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 $43,415 at Lees-McRae College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Belmont Abbey College | Lees-McRae College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,639 | $28,340 |
| Total net cost | $98,556 | $113,360 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,937 | $43,415 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $17,375 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$107,016 | -$212,260 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Belmont Abbey College or Lees-McRae College?
Belmont Abbey College, at $24,639 a year after aid versus $28,340 — a gap of $3,701 a year, or $14,804 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 Lees-McRae College graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $4,522 more than the $43,415 at Lees-McRae 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 leaves students with less debt, Belmont Abbey College or Lees-McRae College?
Lees-McRae College: its completers carry a median $17,375 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Belmont Abbey College, a difference of $8,625. 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 42% at Lees-McRae 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.