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

Private nonprofit, Belmont NC · vs · Public, Clinton 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 $33,409 at Sampson Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureBelmont Abbey CollegeSampson Community College
Net price / yr$24,639$3,108
Total net cost$98,556$12,432
Median earnings, 10 yrs$47,937$33,409
Median debt$26,000
Payback
20-year net return-$107,016-$311,452

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

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

Sampson Community College, at $3,108 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $21,531 a year, or $86,124 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 Sampson Community College graduates earn more?

Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $14,528 more than the $33,409 at Sampson 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?

56% of students finish at Sampson Community College, against 47% at Belmont Abbey 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 Sampson Community College: frequently asked questions

Is Belmont Abbey College or Sampson 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 Sampson Community College?
Sampson Community College: $3,108/yr net price after aid versus $24,639/yr at Belmont Abbey College — a difference of $21,531 a year, or about $86,124 over four years.
Do Belmont Abbey College or Sampson Community College graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates earn a median $47,937 ten years after entry, versus $33,409 at Sampson Community College — a $14,528 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.