At $23,665/yr net price, Barton College graduates earn $47,913/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $13,913/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $23,665 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $94,660 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,913/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$13,913/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 6.8 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 51.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $25,877 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $22,391/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,835/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,931/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,323/yr |
| $110,001+ | $30,183/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $59,781 | $24,290 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor | $38,559 | |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $37,208 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $36,560 | $26,966 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor | $33,281 | |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor | $32,382 | $26,000 |
| Social Work. | Bachelor | $32,124 | $27,000 |
| Gerontology. | Bachelor | $30,228 | |
| Public Health. | Bachelor | $29,685 | |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor | $27,476 | $26,980 |
The Risk Factor
51.5% of students at Barton College graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Barton College gives you a mixed financial picture that hinges almost entirely on your major. Pay roughly $23,665 a year, borrow a median $25,877, and land at median earnings near $47,913 ten years out. That works if you pick the right program and falls apart if you don't.
Nursing is the clear winner here. At close to $60,000 a year with under $24,300 in debt, it pays about $21,000 more than the next-best program while carrying less debt than business grads take on. If you come to Barton for nursing, the numbers make sense.
Everything else looks weak. Teacher education, accounting, business administration, and criminal justice all land between roughly $33,000 and $39,000 a year. Business grads leave with the highest debt on this list, close to $27,000, for pay under $37,000. When your debt exceeds your first-year salary in a field, the math is hard to justify. Wilson and eastern North Carolina do not offer the kind of salaried job market that rescues these numbers.
The biggest risk is finishing at all. Only about two-thirds of you return after your first year, and barely half graduate. If you borrow, stop out, and leave without the degree, you carry the debt with none of the earnings. That risk is real for anyone unsure they'll finish.
The net price tiers hold a trap: families earning $30,000 to $48,000 pay the least, near $18,835, while families under $30,000 pay more, around $22,391. If your household income is at the bottom, run your actual aid offer before committing.
Come here for nursing and you can make it pay. Come for business, accounting, teaching, or criminal justice and you should compare cheaper public options in North Carolina first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barton College worth the cost?
Barton College's ROI is mixed - nursing graduates earn $59,781 annually, making the $25,877 median debt manageable, but other programs like criminal justice ($33,281) and business ($36,560) offer weaker returns. The 51% graduation rate means nearly half of students don't finish their degrees.
What are the best paying majors at Barton College?
Nursing programs at Barton College offer the strongest ROI with graduates earning $59,781 annually. Education majors earn $38,559, while business and criminal justice graduates make $36,560 and $33,281 respectively.
How much debt do Barton College graduates have?
Barton College graduates have a median debt of $25,877. This debt load is reasonable for nursing graduates who earn nearly $60,000, but creates financial strain for graduates in lower-paying fields like criminal justice.
What is Barton College's graduation rate and job prospects?
Only 51% of Barton College students graduate, meaning completion risk is high. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn an average of $47,913, which is modest given the school's $23,665 annual net price.