Head-to-head comparison
Barton College vs Chowan 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 Murfreesboro, NC
Chowan University
- Net price / year
- $14,086
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,412
- 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 $38,412 at Chowan University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Barton College | Chowan University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,626 | $14,086 |
| Total net cost | $94,504 | $56,344 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,913 | $38,412 |
| Median debt | $25,877 | $29,491 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$103,444 | -$255,304 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Barton College or Chowan University?
Chowan University, at $14,086 a year after aid versus $23,626 — a gap of $9,540 a year, or $38,160 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 Chowan University graduates earn more?
Barton College graduates report a median $47,913 ten years after entry, $9,501 more than the $38,412 at Chowan 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 Chowan University?
Barton College: its completers carry a median $25,877 in federal loans versus $29,491 at Chowan University, a difference of $3,614. 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 30% at Chowan 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.