Head-to-head comparison
Johnston Community College vs Beaufort County Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Smithfield, NC
Johnston Community College
- Net price / year
- $1,776
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,310
- 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 Johnston Community College comes closer — median earnings $37,310 against a $3,552 total, vs $32,519 at Beaufort County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Johnston Community College | Beaufort County Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $1,776 | $6,500 |
| Total net cost | $3,552 | $26,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,310 | $32,519 |
| Median debt | — | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$224,552 | -$342,820 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Johnston Community College or Beaufort County Community College?
Johnston Community College, at $1,776 a year after aid versus $6,500 — a gap of $4,724 a year, or $22,448 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 Johnston Community College or Beaufort County Community College graduates earn more?
Johnston Community College graduates report a median $37,310 ten years after entry, $4,791 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 37% at Johnston 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.