Belmont Abbey College vs Southwestern 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 $34,145 at Southwestern Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Belmont Abbey College | Southwestern Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,639 | $5,207 |
| Total net cost | $98,556 | $10,414 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,937 | $34,145 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$107,016 | -$294,714 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Belmont Abbey College or Southwestern Community College?
Southwestern Community College, at $5,207 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $19,432 a year, or $88,142 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 Southwestern Community College graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $13,792 more than the $34,145 at Southwestern 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 leaves students with less debt, Belmont Abbey College or Southwestern Community College?
Southwestern Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Belmont Abbey College, a difference of $15,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
53% of students finish at Southwestern 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.