Head-to-head comparison
Carroll Community College vs Maryland Institute College of Art: 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
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 Carroll Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,349 against a $5,450 total, vs $45,212 at Maryland Institute College of Art. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carroll Community College | Maryland Institute College of Art |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,725 | $42,729 |
| Total net cost | $5,450 | $170,916 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,349 | $45,212 |
| Median debt | $11,750 | $26,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$85,670 | -$233,876 |
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 Maryland Institute College of Art?
Carroll Community College, at $2,725 a year after aid versus $42,729 — a gap of $40,004 a year, or $165,466 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 Maryland Institute College of Art graduates earn more?
Maryland Institute College of Art graduates report a median $45,212 ten years after entry, $863 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 Maryland Institute College of Art?
Carroll Community College: its completers carry a median $11,750 in federal loans versus $26,500 at Maryland Institute College of Art, a difference of $14,750. 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 39% at Carroll Community College. 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.