Head-to-head comparison
Winston-Salem State University vs Beaufort County Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem State University
- Net price / year
- $13,479
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,344
- 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 Winston-Salem State University comes closer — median earnings $45,344 against a $53,916 total, vs $32,519 at Beaufort County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Winston-Salem State University | Beaufort County Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,479 | $6,500 |
| Total net cost | $53,916 | $26,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,344 | $32,519 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$114,236 | -$342,820 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Winston-Salem State University or Beaufort County Community College?
Beaufort County Community College, at $6,500 a year after aid versus $13,479 — a gap of $6,979 a year, or $27,916 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 Winston-Salem State University or Beaufort County Community College graduates earn more?
Winston-Salem State University graduates report a median $45,344 ten years after entry, $12,825 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 47% at Winston-Salem 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.