Head-to-head comparison
Hood College vs Washington 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 Chestertown, MD
Washington College
- Net price / year
- $27,898
- Earnings, 10 years
- $65,518
- Payback
- 6.5 yrs
Washington College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $111,592 in 6.5 years versus 9.6 years at Hood College, on median earnings of $65,518 vs $57,089 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Hood College | Washington College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,873 | $27,898 |
| Total net cost | $83,492 | $111,592 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,089 | $65,518 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $26,956 |
| Payback | 9.6 yrs | 6.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $91,088 | $231,568 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Hood College or Washington College?
Hood College, at $20,873 a year after aid versus $27,898 — a gap of $7,025 a year, or $28,100 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 Washington College graduates earn more?
Washington College graduates report a median $65,518 ten years after entry, $8,429 more than the $57,089 at Hood 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 Washington College?
Hood College: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,956 at Washington College, a difference of $1,956. 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?
65% of students finish at Washington 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.