Belmont Abbey College vs Piedmont Community 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 $33,274 at Piedmont Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Belmont Abbey College | Piedmont Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,639 | $1,095 |
| Total net cost | $98,556 | $4,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,937 | $33,274 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$107,016 | -$306,100 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Belmont Abbey College or Piedmont Community College?
Piedmont Community College, at $1,095 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $23,544 a year, or $94,176 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 Piedmont Community College graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $14,663 more than the $33,274 at Piedmont Community 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 graduates more of its students?
47% of students finish at Belmont Abbey College, against 20% at Piedmont Community 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.