Head-to-head comparison
Belmont University vs Bryan College-Dayton: which has better ROI?
Option A Nashville, TN
Belmont University
- Net price / year
- $33,147
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,930
- Payback
- 17.5 yrs
Option B Dayton, TN
Bryan College-Dayton
- Net price / year
- $20,614
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,434
- Payback
- 13.6 yrs
Bryan College-Dayton has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,456 in 13.6 years versus 17.5 years at Belmont University, on median earnings of $54,434 vs $55,930 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Belmont University | Bryan College-Dayton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $33,147 | $20,614 |
| Total net cost | $132,588 | $82,456 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,930 | $54,434 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 17.5 yrs | 13.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $18,812 | $39,024 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Belmont University or Bryan College-Dayton?
Bryan College-Dayton, at $20,614 a year after aid versus $33,147 — a gap of $12,533 a year, or $50,132 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 University or Bryan College-Dayton graduates earn more?
Belmont University graduates report a median $55,930 ten years after entry, $1,496 more than the $54,434 at Bryan College-Dayton. 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 University or Bryan College-Dayton?
Belmont University: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Bryan College-Dayton, a difference of $2,500. 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?
71% of students finish at Belmont University, against 50% at Bryan College-Dayton. 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.