University of North Carolina Asheville 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 $44,030 at University of North Carolina Asheville. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of North Carolina Asheville | Belmont Abbey College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,250 | $24,639 |
| Total net cost | $49,000 | $98,556 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,030 | $47,937 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$135,600 | -$107,016 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of North Carolina Asheville or Belmont Abbey College?
University of North Carolina Asheville, at $12,250 a year after aid versus $24,639 — a gap of $12,389 a year, or $49,556 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of North Carolina Asheville or Belmont Abbey College graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $3,907 more than the $44,030 at University of North Carolina Asheville. 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, University of North Carolina Asheville or Belmont Abbey College?
University of North Carolina Asheville: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Belmont Abbey College, a difference of $5,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
54% of students finish at University of North Carolina Asheville, 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.