Head-to-head comparison
Bowie State University vs Hood College: which has better ROI?
Option A Bowie, MD
Bowie State University
- Net price / year
- $19,298
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,537
- Payback
- 12.5 yrs
Option B Frederick, MD
Hood College
- Net price / year
- $20,873
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,089
- Payback
- 9.6 yrs
Hood College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $83,492 in 9.6 years versus 12.5 years at Bowie State University, on median earnings of $57,089 vs $54,537 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bowie State University | Hood College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,298 | $20,873 |
| Total net cost | $77,192 | $83,492 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,537 | $57,089 |
| Median debt | $22,985 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 12.5 yrs | 9.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $46,348 | $91,088 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bowie State University or Hood College?
Bowie State University, at $19,298 a year after aid versus $20,873 — a gap of $1,575 a year, or $6,300 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 Bowie State University or Hood College graduates earn more?
Hood College graduates report a median $57,089 ten years after entry, $2,552 more than the $54,537 at Bowie State University. 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, Bowie State University or Hood College?
Bowie State University: its completers carry a median $22,985 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Hood College, a difference of $2,015. 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?
57% of students finish at Hood College, against 38% at Bowie 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.