Head-to-head comparison
Beaufort County Community College vs Warren Wilson College: which has better ROI?
Option A Washington, NC
Beaufort County Community College
- Net price / year
- $6,500
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,519
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Swannanoa, NC
Warren Wilson College
- Net price / year
- $21,249
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,260
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Warren Wilson College comes closer — median earnings $36,260 against a $84,996 total, vs $32,519 at Beaufort County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Beaufort County Community College | Warren Wilson College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,500 | $21,249 |
| Total net cost | $26,000 | $84,996 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,519 | $36,260 |
| Median debt | — | $25,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$342,820 | -$326,996 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Beaufort County Community College or Warren Wilson College?
Beaufort County Community College, at $6,500 a year after aid versus $21,249 — a gap of $14,749 a year, or $58,996 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 Beaufort County Community College or Warren Wilson College graduates earn more?
Warren Wilson College graduates report a median $36,260 ten years after entry, $3,741 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.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
48% of students finish at Beaufort County Community College, against 42% at Warren Wilson 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.