Degree Dividend
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Sandhills Community College vs Belmont Abbey College: which has better ROI?

Public, Pinehurst NC · vs · Private nonprofit, Belmont NC

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Belmont Abbey College comes closer — median earnings $47,937 against a $98,556 total, vs $31,656 at Sandhills Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureSandhills Community CollegeBelmont Abbey College
Net price / yr$4,157$24,639
Total net cost$8,314$98,556
Median earnings, 10 yrs$31,656$47,937
Median debt$26,000
Payback
20-year net return-$342,394-$107,016

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Sandhills Community College or Belmont Abbey College?

Sandhills Community College, at $4,157 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $20,482 a year, or $90,242 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Sandhills Community College or Belmont Abbey College graduates earn more?

Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $16,281 more than the $31,656 at Sandhills 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?

53% of students finish at Sandhills Community College, 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.

Sandhills Community College vs Belmont Abbey College: frequently asked questions

Is Sandhills Community College or Belmont Abbey College a better value?
Belmont Abbey College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Sandhills Community College or Belmont Abbey College?
Sandhills Community College: $4,157/yr net price after aid versus $24,639/yr at Belmont Abbey College — a difference of $20,482 a year, or about $90,242 over four years.
Do Sandhills Community College or Belmont Abbey College graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates earn a median $47,937 ten years after entry, versus $31,656 at Sandhills Community College — a $16,281 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.