Head-to-head comparison
Hood College vs St. John's College: which has better ROI?
Option A Frederick, MD
Hood College
- Net price / year
- $20,873
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,089
- Payback
- 9.6 yrs
Option B Annapolis, MD
St. John's College
- Net price / year
- $45,597
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,584
- Payback
- 56.6 yrs
Hood College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $83,492 in 9.6 years versus 56.6 years at St. John's College, on median earnings of $57,089 vs $51,584 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Hood College | St. John's College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,873 | $45,597 |
| Total net cost | $83,492 | $182,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,089 | $51,584 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 9.6 yrs | 56.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $91,088 | -$117,908 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Hood College or St. John's College?
Hood College, at $20,873 a year after aid versus $45,597 — a gap of $24,724 a year, or $98,896 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 Hood College or St. John's College graduates earn more?
Hood College graduates report a median $57,089 ten years after entry, $5,505 more than the $51,584 at St. John's 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, Hood College or St. John's College?
Hood College: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at St. John's College, a difference of $2,000. 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?
71% of students finish at St. John's College, against 57% at Hood 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.