East Central Community College vs Belhaven University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Belhaven University comes closer — median earnings $46,440 against a $62,704 total, vs $32,421 at East Central Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | East Central Community College | Belhaven University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,240 | $15,676 |
| Total net cost | $10,480 | $62,704 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,421 | $46,440 |
| Median debt | $5,500 | $26,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$329,260 | -$101,104 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, East Central Community College or Belhaven University?
East Central Community College, at $5,240 a year after aid versus $15,676 — a gap of $10,436 a year, or $52,224 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do East Central Community College or Belhaven University graduates earn more?
Belhaven University graduates report a median $46,440 ten years after entry, $14,019 more than the $32,421 at East Central 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, East Central Community College or Belhaven University?
East Central Community College: its completers carry a median $5,500 in federal loans versus $26,333 at Belhaven University, a difference of $20,833. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
49% of students finish at Belhaven University, against 36% at East Central 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.