Rowan-Cabarrus 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 $34,936 at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | Belmont Abbey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,981 | $24,639 |
| Total net cost | $31,924 | $98,556 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,936 | $47,937 |
| Median debt | $9,458 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$300,404 | -$107,016 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College or Belmont Abbey College?
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, at $7,981 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $16,658 a year, or $66,632 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Rowan-Cabarrus Community College or Belmont Abbey College graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $13,001 more than the $34,936 at Rowan-Cabarrus 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, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College or Belmont Abbey College?
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College: its completers carry a median $9,458 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Belmont Abbey College, a difference of $16,542. 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 35% at Rowan-Cabarrus 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.