Head-to-head comparison
Howard Community College vs Bowie State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Columbia, MD
Howard Community College
- Net price / year
- $11,133
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,020
- Payback
- 33.7 yrs
Option B Bowie, MD
Bowie State University
- Net price / year
- $19,298
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,537
- Payback
- 12.5 yrs
Bowie State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $77,192 in 12.5 years versus 33.7 years at Howard Community College, on median earnings of $54,537 vs $49,020 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Howard Community College | Bowie State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,133 | $19,298 |
| Total net cost | $22,266 | $77,192 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,020 | $54,537 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $22,985 |
| Payback | 33.7 yrs | 12.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$9,066 | $46,348 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Howard Community College or Bowie State University?
Howard Community College, at $11,133 a year after aid versus $19,298 — a gap of $8,165 a year, or $54,926 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 Howard Community College or Bowie State University graduates earn more?
Bowie State University graduates report a median $54,537 ten years after entry, $5,517 more than the $49,020 at Howard 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, Howard Community College or Bowie State University?
Howard Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $22,985 at Bowie State University, a difference of $12,485. 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?
38% of students finish at Bowie State University, against 24% at Howard 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.