Belmont Abbey College vs North Carolina Wesleyan 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 $45,873 at North Carolina Wesleyan University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Belmont Abbey College | North Carolina Wesleyan University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,639 | $17,432 |
| Total net cost | $98,556 | $69,728 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,937 | $45,873 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$107,016 | -$119,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Belmont Abbey College or North Carolina Wesleyan University?
North Carolina Wesleyan University, at $17,432 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $7,207 a year, or $28,828 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 North Carolina Wesleyan University graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $2,064 more than the $45,873 at North Carolina Wesleyan 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 North Carolina Wesleyan University?
North Carolina Wesleyan University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Belmont Abbey College, a difference of $1,000. 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 42% at North Carolina Wesleyan 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.