Head-to-head comparison
Frostburg State University vs McDaniel College: which has better ROI?
Option A Frostburg, MD
Frostburg State University
- Net price / year
- $16,715
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,493
- Payback
- 9.4 yrs
Option B Westminster, MD
McDaniel College
- Net price / year
- $21,916
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,663
- Payback
- 7.1 yrs
McDaniel College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $87,664 in 7.1 years versus 9.4 years at Frostburg State University, on median earnings of $60,663 vs $55,493 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Frostburg State University | McDaniel College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,715 | $21,916 |
| Total net cost | $66,860 | $87,664 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,493 | $60,663 |
| Median debt | $21,105 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 9.4 yrs | 7.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $75,800 | $158,396 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Frostburg State University or McDaniel College?
Frostburg State University, at $16,715 a year after aid versus $21,916 — a gap of $5,201 a year, or $20,804 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 Frostburg State University or McDaniel College graduates earn more?
McDaniel College graduates report a median $60,663 ten years after entry, $5,170 more than the $55,493 at Frostburg 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, Frostburg State University or McDaniel College?
Frostburg State University: its completers carry a median $21,105 in federal loans versus $25,000 at McDaniel College, a difference of $3,895. 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?
63% of students finish at McDaniel College, against 50% at Frostburg 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.