North Carolina Central 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 $42,968 at North Carolina Central University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Carolina Central University | Belmont Abbey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,359 | $24,639 |
| Total net cost | $61,436 | $98,556 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,968 | $47,937 |
| Median debt | $28,250 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$169,276 | -$107,016 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, North Carolina Central University or Belmont Abbey College?
North Carolina Central University, at $15,359 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $9,280 a year, or $37,120 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 Belmont Abbey College graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $4,969 more than the $42,968 at North Carolina Central 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, North Carolina Central University or Belmont Abbey College?
Belmont Abbey College: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $28,250 at North Carolina Central University, a difference of $2,250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
47% of students finish at Belmont Abbey 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.