Wilkes Community College vs Beaufort County Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Wilkes Community College comes closer — median earnings $34,728 against a -$1,056 total, vs $32,519 at Beaufort County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wilkes Community College | Beaufort County Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | -$264 | $6,500 |
| Total net cost | -$1,056 | $26,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,728 | $32,519 |
| Median debt | $7,625 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$271,584 | -$342,820 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Wilkes Community College or Beaufort County Community College?
Wilkes Community College, at -$264 a year after aid versus $6,500 — a gap of $6,764 a year, or $27,056 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Wilkes Community College or Beaufort County Community College graduates earn more?
Wilkes Community College graduates report a median $34,728 ten years after entry, $2,209 more than the $32,519 at Beaufort County 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?
55% of students finish at Wilkes Community College, against 48% at Beaufort County 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.