Belmont Abbey College
Belmont, North Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 74.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 24/100 · Poor Value
Belmont Abbey College, a small Catholic Benedictine liberal arts college outside Charlotte, North Carolina, scores 24 on overall ROI (Poor Value tier). Tuition is $19,500 -- moderate for a private nonprofit -- but average net price is actually $24,639, which is HIGHER than published tuition. That unusual pattern means typical students pay more than sticker once room, board, and fees enter the equation. Four-year cost runs $98,556. Median earnings six years out are $34,600, climbing to $47,937 by year ten -- a slow trajectory at this price point that produces an 18.4-year payback period. Median debt of $26,000 and a 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio reflect the gap between cost and outcomes. The 47% completion rate is mediocre, and the 53% three-year repayment rate is genuinely concerning -- nearly half of borrowers are not paying down principal three years out, a serious distress signal. Belmont Abbey's strongest tracks are Accounting and Business Administration; non-business liberal arts programs cluster in D-grade territory. The Catholic identity, small-college community, and Charlotte-metro location are the non-financial value drivers prospective students are buying.
The data raises concerns about Belmont Abbey College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score24/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period18.4 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Belmont Abbey College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $19,500/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,500/yr |
| Average net price | $24,639/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $98,556 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,937 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 18.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 46.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,276 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Belmont Abbey College is $19,500/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $24,639/year, or roughly $98,556 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $20,610/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,059/year.
The median graduate leaves with $26,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $276 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $47,937 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.75 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $20,610 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,868 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,195 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,798 |
| $110,001+ | $27,059 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $20,610 net, and the $30,001-$48,000 bracket actually pays slightly less at $18,868 -- a small bracket inversion. With Pell, North Carolina aid, and Belmont Abbey grants, four-year cost is roughly $75,000-$83,000. Heavy lift for low-income families given the school's earnings outcomes. UNC Charlotte at materially lower in-state pricing is a much stronger alternative.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $21,195 and $75,001-$110,000 pays $24,798. Across the middle range, four-year cost is roughly $85,000-$99,000. With $34,600 median early-career earnings and an 18.4-year payback period, the math is hard to justify versus North Carolina publics or stronger Catholic options like Catholic University of America for students seeking that mission.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,001 pay $27,059 -- effectively full-pay at roughly $108,000 over four years. At this price, the only clear case for Belmont Abbey is Catholic mission fit and Division II athletic recruitment. Otherwise stronger Sun Belt privates, Catholic universities, or UNC system schools offer materially better economic outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Belmont Abbey College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $70,655 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $45,008 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $60,199 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $60,235 | D |
| Accounting | $74,698 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $46,372 | C |
| Education, General | $44,460 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Accounting
Accounting is Belmont Abbey's standout: $55,224 first-year and $74,698 four-year median earnings against $25,982 median debt produce a 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ ROI grade -- the strongest on campus. 9 graduates per cohort feed Charlotte-metro public-accounting and corporate-finance roles. For accounting-focused students, this is the financial bright spot at the school.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program at 69 graduates, with $45,039 first-year and $70,655 four-year median earnings against $27,000 median debt (0.60 debt-to-earnings) -- C ROI grade. The four-year earnings number is genuinely strong, suggesting graduates who reach mid-career do well in Charlotte's financial services and corporate sectors. Decent middle-of-the-road bet for business-focused students.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts and Sciences earns a D ROI: $46,654 first-year median is decent, but $33,291 median debt produces a 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio at a Catholic liberal arts school where this is a defining program. 30 graduates per cohort. The earnings outcomes are above average for liberal arts, but the debt load is heavy -- students should target specific career paths (law school prep, business analytics, etc.) rather than treating this as an undefined credential.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology earns a D ROI: $27,739 first-year against $25,250 median debt produce a 0.91 debt-to-earnings ratio. 31 graduates per cohort -- one of the larger programs, likely tied to athletic-program enrollment. Like most kinesiology bachelor's programs, real ROI requires graduate study (PT, OT, athletic training). Students should plan for grad school or pivot to a more directly-employable adjacent track.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 49.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 52.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 47.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 56.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 74.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 470-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-610 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-26 |
| Enrollment | 1,276 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 24.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,019 |
Belmont Abbey admits 75% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges of 470-590 Math and 490-610 Reading, plus ACT 18-26, place enrolled students slightly below national medians but within range for a regional Catholic liberal arts college. The 47% completion rate is below what the academic preparation profile would predict, suggesting some combination of financial stop-out and transfer to less expensive in-state alternatives like UNC Charlotte.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peer set is Carolina-and-region small private. Barton College and Bennett College are similar-scale NC privates. Mary Baldwin University in Virginia and Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky are comparable small Christian colleges. Atlantic University in VA is a niche outlier. Across this peer set Belmont Abbey lands in the bottom half on ROI, with Mary Baldwin and Lindsey Wilson offering somewhat better outcomes. The cluster reflects the structural pricing-vs-outcome problem at small religious-affiliated regional privates.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont Abbey College (this school) | 24 | $24,639 | $47,937 |
| Atlantic University | 26 | $6,425 | $25,272 |
| Mary Baldwin University | 25 | $12,756 | $44,427 |
| Barton College | 24 | $23,626 | $47,913 |
| Lindsey Wilson College | 23 | $15,070 | $41,129 |
| Bennett College | 6 | $28,299 | $36,654 |
Who Thrives Here
With 1,276 students and a 24% Pell rate (relatively low for this tier), Belmont Abbey serves a moderately middle-income, predominantly Catholic, athletically-active student population in the Charlotte metro. The fit profile: students drawn to the Catholic Benedictine community, NCAA Division II athletics, and small-campus experience near a major Sun Belt city. Strongest financial tracks are Accounting (C+ ROI grade, 9 graduates) and Business Administration (C, 69 graduates -- the largest program). Education, kinesiology, and criminal justice tracks all post D grades and warrant careful financial planning.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Belmont Abbey College. With a net cost of $24,639 per year and median graduate earnings of only $47,937 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 18.4 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 46.7% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,000 against $47,937 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.