Head-to-head comparison
Barton College vs Lees-McRae College: 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 Banner Elk, NC
Lees-McRae College
- Net price / year
- $28,340
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,415
- 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 $43,415 at Lees-McRae College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Barton College | Lees-McRae College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,626 | $28,340 |
| Total net cost | $94,504 | $113,360 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,913 | $43,415 |
| Median debt | $25,877 | $17,375 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$103,444 | -$212,260 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Barton College or Lees-McRae College?
Barton College, at $23,626 a year after aid versus $28,340 — a gap of $4,714 a year, or $18,856 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 Lees-McRae College graduates earn more?
Barton College graduates report a median $47,913 ten years after entry, $4,498 more than the $43,415 at Lees-McRae 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Barton College or Lees-McRae College?
Lees-McRae College: its completers carry a median $17,375 in federal loans versus $25,877 at Barton College, a difference of $8,502. 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 42% at Lees-McRae 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.