Richmond Community College 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 $29,951 at Richmond Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Richmond Community College | Belmont Abbey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,071 | $24,639 |
| Total net cost | $20,284 | $98,556 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $29,951 | $47,937 |
| Median debt | — | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$388,464 | -$107,016 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Richmond Community College or Belmont Abbey College?
Richmond Community College, at $5,071 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $19,568 a year, or $78,272 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Richmond Community College or Belmont Abbey College graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $17,986 more than the $29,951 at Richmond 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?
47% of students finish at Belmont Abbey College, against 46% at Richmond 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.