North Carolina Central University vs Beaufort County Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but North Carolina Central University comes closer — median earnings $42,968 against a $61,436 total, vs $32,519 at Beaufort County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Carolina Central University | Beaufort County Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,359 | $6,500 |
| Total net cost | $61,436 | $26,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,968 | $32,519 |
| Median debt | $28,250 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$169,276 | -$342,820 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, North Carolina Central University or Beaufort County Community College?
Beaufort County Community College, at $6,500 a year after aid versus $15,359 — a gap of $8,859 a year, or $35,436 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do North Carolina Central University or Beaufort County Community College graduates earn more?
North Carolina Central University graduates report a median $42,968 ten years after entry, $10,449 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 42% at North Carolina Central University. 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.