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

Private nonprofit, Belmont NC · vs · Private nonprofit, Salisbury 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 $32,600 at Livingstone College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureBelmont Abbey CollegeLivingstone College
Net price / yr$24,639$13,479
Total net cost$98,556$53,916
Median earnings, 10 yrs$47,937$32,600
Median debt$26,000$31,125
Payback
20-year net return-$107,016-$369,116

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

Which is cheaper, Belmont Abbey College or Livingstone College?

Livingstone College, at $13,479 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $11,160 a year, or $44,640 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 Livingstone College graduates earn more?

Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $15,337 more than the $32,600 at Livingstone 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 Livingstone College?

Belmont Abbey College: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $31,125 at Livingstone College, a difference of $5,125. 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 28% at Livingstone 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 Livingstone College: frequently asked questions

Is Belmont Abbey College or Livingstone 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 Livingstone College?
Livingstone College: $13,479/yr net price after aid versus $24,639/yr at Belmont Abbey College — a difference of $11,160 a year, or about $44,640 over four years.
Do Belmont Abbey College or Livingstone College graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates earn a median $47,937 ten years after entry, versus $32,600 at Livingstone College — a $15,337 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.