Head-to-head comparison
Lenoir-Rhyne University vs Barton College: which has better ROI?
Option A Hickory, NC
Lenoir-Rhyne University
- Net price / year
- $20,689
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,543
- 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 $45,543 at Lenoir-Rhyne University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lenoir-Rhyne University | Barton College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,689 | $23,626 |
| Total net cost | $82,756 | $94,504 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,543 | $47,913 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $25,877 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$139,096 | -$103,444 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lenoir-Rhyne University or Barton College?
Lenoir-Rhyne University, at $20,689 a year after aid versus $23,626 — a gap of $2,937 a year, or $11,748 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 Lenoir-Rhyne University or Barton College graduates earn more?
Barton College graduates report a median $47,913 ten years after entry, $2,370 more than the $45,543 at Lenoir-Rhyne University. 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, Lenoir-Rhyne University or Barton College?
Barton College: its completers carry a median $25,877 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Lenoir-Rhyne University, a difference of $123. 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?
48% of students finish at Lenoir-Rhyne University, 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.