Lenoir-Rhyne University vs Belmont Abbey 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 $45,543 at Lenoir-Rhyne University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lenoir-Rhyne University | Belmont Abbey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,689 | $24,639 |
| Total net cost | $82,756 | $98,556 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,543 | $47,937 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$139,096 | -$107,016 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lenoir-Rhyne University or Belmont Abbey College?
Lenoir-Rhyne University, at $20,689 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $3,950 a year, or $15,800 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Lenoir-Rhyne University or Belmont Abbey College graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $2,394 more than the $45,543 at Lenoir-Rhyne University. 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, Lenoir-Rhyne University or Belmont Abbey College?
Completers at both borrow a median $26,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
48% of students finish at Lenoir-Rhyne University, 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.