Degree Dividend
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Edgecombe Community College vs Barton College: which has better ROI?

Public, Tarboro 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 $33,267 at Edgecombe Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureEdgecombe Community CollegeBarton College
Net price / yr$0$23,626
Total net cost$0$94,504
Median earnings, 10 yrs$33,267$47,913
Median debt$15,917$25,877
Payback
20-year net return-$301,860-$103,444

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

Which is cheaper, Edgecombe Community College or Barton College?

Edgecombe Community College, at $0 a year after aid versus $23,626 — a gap of $23,626 a year, or $94,504 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Edgecombe Community College or Barton College graduates earn more?

Barton College graduates report a median $47,913 ten years after entry, $14,646 more than the $33,267 at Edgecombe 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, Edgecombe Community College or Barton College?

Edgecombe Community College: its completers carry a median $15,917 in federal loans versus $25,877 at Barton College, a difference of $9,960. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

46% of students finish at Barton College, against 37% at Edgecombe 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.

Edgecombe Community College vs Barton College: frequently asked questions

Is Edgecombe 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, Edgecombe Community College or Barton College?
Edgecombe Community College: $0/yr net price after aid versus $23,626/yr at Barton College — a difference of $23,626 a year, or about $94,504 over four years.
Do Edgecombe Community College or Barton College graduates earn more?
Barton College graduates earn a median $47,913 ten years after entry, versus $33,267 at Edgecombe Community College — a $14,646 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.