Head-to-head comparison
Allegany College of Maryland vs Maryland Institute College of Art: which has better ROI?
Option A Cumberland, MD
Allegany College of Maryland
- Net price / year
- $8,819
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,476
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Baltimore, MD
Maryland Institute College of Art
- Net price / year
- $42,729
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,212
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Allegany College of Maryland comes closer — median earnings $38,476 against a $17,638 total, vs $45,212 at Maryland Institute College of Art. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Allegany College of Maryland | Maryland Institute College of Art |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,819 | $42,729 |
| Total net cost | $17,638 | $170,916 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,476 | $45,212 |
| Median debt | $13,702 | $26,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$215,318 | -$233,876 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Allegany College of Maryland or Maryland Institute College of Art?
Allegany College of Maryland, at $8,819 a year after aid versus $42,729 — a gap of $33,910 a year, or $153,278 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 Allegany College of Maryland or Maryland Institute College of Art graduates earn more?
Maryland Institute College of Art graduates report a median $45,212 ten years after entry, $6,736 more than the $38,476 at Allegany College of Maryland. 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, Allegany College of Maryland or Maryland Institute College of Art?
Allegany College of Maryland: its completers carry a median $13,702 in federal loans versus $26,500 at Maryland Institute College of Art, a difference of $12,798. 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?
72% of students finish at Maryland Institute College of Art, against 40% at Allegany College of Maryland. 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.