Head-to-head comparison
Beaufort County Community College vs William Peace University: 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 Raleigh, NC
William Peace University
- Net price / year
- $21,649
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,643
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but William Peace University comes closer — median earnings $46,643 against a $86,596 total, vs $32,519 at Beaufort County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Beaufort County Community College | William Peace University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,500 | $21,649 |
| Total net cost | $26,000 | $86,596 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,519 | $46,643 |
| Median debt | — | $22,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$342,820 | -$120,936 |
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 William Peace University?
Beaufort County Community College, at $6,500 a year after aid versus $21,649 — a gap of $15,149 a year, or $60,596 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 William Peace University graduates earn more?
William Peace University graduates report a median $46,643 ten years after entry, $14,124 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 45% at William Peace 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.