Belmont Abbey College vs Mars Hill 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 $44,781 at Mars Hill University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Belmont Abbey College | Mars Hill University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,639 | $19,910 |
| Total net cost | $98,556 | $79,640 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,937 | $44,781 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$107,016 | -$151,220 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Belmont Abbey College or Mars Hill University?
Mars Hill University, at $19,910 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $4,729 a year, or $18,916 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 Mars Hill University graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $3,156 more than the $44,781 at Mars Hill 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 Mars Hill University?
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?
47% of students finish at Belmont Abbey College, against 45% at Mars Hill 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.