Head-to-head comparison
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte vs Beaufort County Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Charlotte, NC
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
- Net price / year
- $27,426
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,418
- 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 Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte comes closer — median earnings $43,418 against a $54,852 total, vs $32,519 at Beaufort County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte | Beaufort County Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,426 | $6,500 |
| Total net cost | $54,852 | $26,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,418 | $32,519 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$153,692 | -$342,820 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte or Beaufort County Community College?
Beaufort County Community College, at $6,500 a year after aid versus $27,426 — a gap of $20,926 a year, or $28,852 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 Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte or Beaufort County Community College graduates earn more?
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte graduates report a median $43,418 ten years after entry, $10,899 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?
49% of students finish at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte, against 48% at Beaufort County Community 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.