Head-to-head comparison
Elizabeth City State University vs Beaufort County Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Elizabeth City, NC
Elizabeth City State University
- Net price / year
- $6,364
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,026
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Washington, NC
Beaufort County Community College
- Net price / year
- $6,500
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,519
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Elizabeth City State University comes closer — median earnings $40,026 against a $25,456 total, vs $32,519 at Beaufort County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Elizabeth City State University | Beaufort County Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,364 | $6,500 |
| Total net cost | $25,456 | $26,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,026 | $32,519 |
| Median debt | $21,463 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$192,136 | -$342,820 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Elizabeth City State University or Beaufort County Community College?
Elizabeth City State University, at $6,364 a year after aid versus $6,500 — a gap of $136 a year, or $544 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 Elizabeth City State University or Beaufort County Community College graduates earn more?
Elizabeth City State University graduates report a median $40,026 ten years after entry, $7,507 more than the $32,519 at Beaufort County 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 graduates more of its students?
48% of students finish at Beaufort County Community College, against 44% at Elizabeth City State 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.