Head-to-head comparison
Campbell University vs Meredith College: which has better ROI?
Option A Buies Creek, NC
Campbell University
- Net price / year
- $24,516
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,886
- Payback
- 15 yrs
Option B Raleigh, NC
Meredith College
- Net price / year
- $22,488
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,539
- Payback
- 28.3 yrs
Campbell University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $98,064 in 15 years versus 28.3 years at Meredith College, on median earnings of $54,886 vs $51,539 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Campbell University | Meredith College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,516 | $22,488 |
| Total net cost | $98,064 | $89,952 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,886 | $51,539 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 15 yrs | 28.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $32,456 | -$26,372 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Campbell University or Meredith College?
Meredith College, at $22,488 a year after aid versus $24,516 — a gap of $2,028 a year, or $8,112 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 Campbell University or Meredith College graduates earn more?
Campbell University graduates report a median $54,886 ten years after entry, $3,347 more than the $51,539 at Meredith 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, Campbell University or Meredith College?
Campbell University: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Meredith College, 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?
70% of students finish at Meredith College, against 61% at Campbell 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.