Head-to-head comparison
Barton College vs Carolina University: which has better ROI?
Option A Wilson, NC
Barton College
- Net price / year
- $23,626
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,913
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Winston-Salem, NC
Carolina University
- Net price / year
- $20,828
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,864
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Barton College comes closer — median earnings $47,913 against a $94,504 total, vs $32,864 at Carolina University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Barton College | Carolina University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,626 | $20,828 |
| Total net cost | $94,504 | $83,312 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,913 | $32,864 |
| Median debt | $25,877 | $20,287 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$103,444 | -$393,232 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Barton College or Carolina University?
Carolina University, at $20,828 a year after aid versus $23,626 — a gap of $2,798 a year, or $11,192 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Barton College or Carolina University graduates earn more?
Barton College graduates report a median $47,913 ten years after entry, $15,049 more than the $32,864 at Carolina University. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Barton College or Carolina University?
Carolina University: its completers carry a median $20,287 in federal loans versus $25,877 at Barton College, a difference of $5,590. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
46% of students finish at Barton College, against 22% at Carolina 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.