Head-to-head comparison
Davidson College vs Cabarrus College of Health Sciences: which has better ROI?
Option A Davidson, NC
Davidson College
- Net price / year
- $17,379
- Earnings, 10 years
- $81,400
- Payback
- 2.1 yrs
Option B Concord, NC
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
- Net price / year
- $17,618
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,708
- Payback
- 3.4 yrs
Davidson College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $69,516 in 2.1 years versus 3.4 years at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences, on median earnings of $81,400 vs $58,708 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Davidson College | Cabarrus College of Health Sciences |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,379 | $17,618 |
| Total net cost | $69,516 | $35,236 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $81,400 | $58,708 |
| Median debt | $18,688 | $16,000 |
| Payback | 2.1 yrs | 3.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $591,284 | $171,724 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Davidson College or Cabarrus College of Health Sciences?
Davidson College, at $17,379 a year after aid versus $17,618 — a gap of $239 a year, or $34,280 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 Davidson College or Cabarrus College of Health Sciences graduates earn more?
Davidson College graduates report a median $81,400 ten years after entry, $22,692 more than the $58,708 at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences. 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, Davidson College or Cabarrus College of Health Sciences?
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences: its completers carry a median $16,000 in federal loans versus $18,688 at Davidson College, a difference of $2,688. 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?
91% of students finish at Davidson College, against 71% at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences. 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.