Belmont Abbey College vs Tri-County 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 $32,232 at Tri-County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Belmont Abbey College | Tri-County Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,639 | $7,799 |
| Total net cost | $98,556 | $15,598 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,937 | $32,232 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$107,016 | -$338,158 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Belmont Abbey College or Tri-County Community College?
Tri-County Community College, at $7,799 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $16,840 a year, or $82,958 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 Tri-County Community College graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $15,705 more than the $32,232 at Tri-County 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?
54% of students finish at Tri-County 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.