Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Cleveland Community College vs Barton College: which has better ROI?

Public, Shelby NC · vs · Private nonprofit, Wilson NC

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Barton College comes closer — median earnings $47,913 against a $94,504 total, vs $33,755 at Cleveland Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureCleveland Community CollegeBarton College
Net price / yr$995$23,626
Total net cost$3,980$94,504
Median earnings, 10 yrs$33,755$47,913
Median debt$25,877
Payback
20-year net return-$296,080-$103,444

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

Which is cheaper, Cleveland Community College or Barton College?

Cleveland Community College, at $995 a year after aid versus $23,626 — a gap of $22,631 a year, or $90,524 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Cleveland Community College or Barton College graduates earn more?

Barton College graduates report a median $47,913 ten years after entry, $14,158 more than the $33,755 at Cleveland 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?

46% of students finish at Barton College, against 32% at Cleveland 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.

Cleveland Community College vs Barton College: frequently asked questions

Is Cleveland Community College or Barton College a better value?
Barton 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, Cleveland Community College or Barton College?
Cleveland Community College: $995/yr net price after aid versus $23,626/yr at Barton College — a difference of $22,631 a year, or about $90,524 over four years.
Do Cleveland Community College or Barton College graduates earn more?
Barton College graduates earn a median $47,913 ten years after entry, versus $33,755 at Cleveland Community College — a $14,158 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.