Head-to-head comparison
Carroll Community College vs Coppin State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Westminster, MD
Carroll Community College
- Net price / year
- $2,725
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,349
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Baltimore, MD
Coppin State University
- Net price / year
- $9,977
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,490
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Coppin State University comes closer — median earnings $46,490 against a $39,908 total, vs $44,349 at Carroll Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carroll Community College | Coppin State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,725 | $9,977 |
| Total net cost | $5,450 | $39,908 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,349 | $46,490 |
| Median debt | $11,750 | $25,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$85,670 | -$77,308 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Carroll Community College or Coppin State University?
Carroll Community College, at $2,725 a year after aid versus $9,977 — a gap of $7,252 a year, or $34,458 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 Carroll Community College or Coppin State University graduates earn more?
Coppin State University graduates report a median $46,490 ten years after entry, $2,141 more than the $44,349 at Carroll 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 leaves students with less debt, Carroll Community College or Coppin State University?
Carroll Community College: its completers carry a median $11,750 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Coppin State University, a difference of $13,250. 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?
39% of students finish at Carroll Community College, against 26% at Coppin 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.