Head-to-head comparison
Belmont Abbey College vs Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte: which has better ROI?
Option A Belmont, NC
Belmont Abbey College
- Net price / year
- $24,639
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,937
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Charlotte, NC
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
- Net price / year
- $27,426
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,418
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Belmont Abbey College comes closer — median earnings $47,937 against a $98,556 total, vs $43,418 at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Belmont Abbey College | Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,639 | $27,426 |
| Total net cost | $98,556 | $54,852 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,937 | $43,418 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$107,016 | -$153,692 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Belmont Abbey College or Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte?
Belmont Abbey College, at $24,639 a year after aid versus $27,426 — a gap of $2,787 a year, or $43,704 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 Belmont Abbey College or Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte graduates earn more?
Belmont Abbey College graduates report a median $47,937 ten years after entry, $4,519 more than the $43,418 at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte. 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, Belmont Abbey College or Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte?
Completers at both borrow a median $26,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
49% of students finish at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte, against 47% at Belmont Abbey 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.