Southwest Mississippi Community College vs Belhaven University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Belhaven University comes closer — median earnings $46,440 against a $62,704 total, vs $33,227 at Southwest Mississippi Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southwest Mississippi Community College | Belhaven University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,525 | $15,676 |
| Total net cost | $5,050 | $62,704 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,227 | $46,440 |
| Median debt | — | $26,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$307,710 | -$101,104 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southwest Mississippi Community College or Belhaven University?
Southwest Mississippi Community College, at $2,525 a year after aid versus $15,676 — a gap of $13,151 a year, or $57,654 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southwest Mississippi Community College or Belhaven University graduates earn more?
Belhaven University graduates report a median $46,440 ten years after entry, $13,213 more than the $33,227 at Southwest Mississippi 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?
56% of students finish at Southwest Mississippi Community College, against 49% at Belhaven 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.