Head-to-head comparison
Coppin State University vs Cecil College: which has better ROI?
Option A Baltimore, MD
Coppin State University
- Net price / year
- $9,977
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,490
- Payback
- No payback
Option B North East, MD
Cecil College
- Net price / year
- $9,658
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,952
- 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 $43,952 at Cecil College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Coppin State University | Cecil College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,977 | $9,658 |
| Total net cost | $39,908 | $19,316 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,490 | $43,952 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $9,536 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$77,308 | -$107,476 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Coppin State University or Cecil College?
Cecil College, at $9,658 a year after aid versus $9,977 — a gap of $319 a year, or $20,592 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 Coppin State University or Cecil College graduates earn more?
Coppin State University graduates report a median $46,490 ten years after entry, $2,538 more than the $43,952 at Cecil 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, Coppin State University or Cecil College?
Cecil College: its completers carry a median $9,536 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Coppin State University, a difference of $15,464. 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?
37% of students finish at Cecil 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.