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

Private nonprofit, Belmont NC · vs · Public, Wentworth 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 $32,480 at Rockingham Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureBelmont Abbey CollegeRockingham Community College
Net price / yr$24,639$2,060
Total net cost$98,556$4,120
Median earnings, 10 yrs$47,937$32,480
Median debt$26,000
Payback
20-year net return-$107,016-$321,720

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

Which is cheaper, Belmont Abbey College or Rockingham Community College?

Rockingham Community College, at $2,060 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $22,579 a year, or $94,436 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 Rockingham Community College graduates earn more?

Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $15,457 more than the $32,480 at Rockingham 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 35% at Rockingham 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.

Belmont Abbey College vs Rockingham Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Belmont Abbey College or Rockingham Community 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 Rockingham Community College?
Rockingham Community College: $2,060/yr net price after aid versus $24,639/yr at Belmont Abbey College — a difference of $22,579 a year, or about $94,436 over four years.
Do Belmont Abbey College or Rockingham Community College graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates earn a median $47,937 ten years after entry, versus $32,480 at Rockingham Community College — a $15,457 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.