College of the Albemarle vs Beaufort County Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of the Albemarle comes closer — median earnings $33,234 against a $4,506 total, vs $32,519 at Beaufort County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of the Albemarle | Beaufort County Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,253 | $6,500 |
| Total net cost | $4,506 | $26,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,234 | $32,519 |
| Median debt | — | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$307,026 | -$342,820 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College of the Albemarle or Beaufort County Community College?
College of the Albemarle, at $2,253 a year after aid versus $6,500 — a gap of $4,247 a year, or $21,494 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do College of the Albemarle or Beaufort County Community College graduates earn more?
College of the Albemarle graduates report a median $33,234 ten years after entry, $715 more than the $32,519 at Beaufort 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?
48% of students finish at Beaufort County Community College, against 35% at College of the Albemarle. 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.