Head-to-head comparison
South Piedmont Community College vs Barton College: which has better ROI?
Option A Polkton, NC
South Piedmont Community College
- Net price / year
- $6,675
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,308
- 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 $37,308 at South Piedmont Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South Piedmont Community College | Barton College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,675 | $23,626 |
| Total net cost | $13,350 | $94,504 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,308 | $47,913 |
| Median debt | — | $25,877 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$234,390 | -$103,444 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, South Piedmont Community College or Barton College?
South Piedmont Community College, at $6,675 a year after aid versus $23,626 — a gap of $16,951 a year, or $81,154 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 South Piedmont Community College or Barton College graduates earn more?
Barton College graduates report a median $47,913 ten years after entry, $10,605 more than the $37,308 at South Piedmont 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?
46% of students finish at Barton College, against 38% at South Piedmont 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.