Head-to-head comparison
Davidson-Davie Community College vs Barton College: which has better ROI?
Option A Thomasville, NC
Davidson-Davie Community College
- Net price / year
- $8,753
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,337
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Wilson, NC
Barton College
- Net price / year
- $23,626
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,913
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Barton College comes closer — median earnings $47,913 against a $94,504 total, vs $36,337 at Davidson-Davie Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Davidson-Davie Community College | Barton College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,753 | $23,626 |
| Total net cost | $35,012 | $94,504 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,337 | $47,913 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $25,877 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$275,472 | -$103,444 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Davidson-Davie Community College or Barton College?
Davidson-Davie Community College, at $8,753 a year after aid versus $23,626 — a gap of $14,873 a year, or $59,492 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-Davie Community College or Barton College graduates earn more?
Barton College graduates report a median $47,913 ten years after entry, $11,576 more than the $36,337 at Davidson-Davie 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 leaves students with less debt, Davidson-Davie Community College or Barton College?
Davidson-Davie Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $25,877 at Barton College, a difference of $15,377. 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?
46% of students finish at Davidson-Davie Community College, against 46% at Barton 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.