Head-to-head comparison
McDaniel College vs Washington College: which has better ROI?
Option A Westminster, MD
McDaniel College
- Net price / year
- $21,916
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,663
- Payback
- 7.1 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 7.1 years at McDaniel College, on median earnings of $65,518 vs $60,663 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | McDaniel College | Washington College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,916 | $27,898 |
| Total net cost | $87,664 | $111,592 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,663 | $65,518 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $26,956 |
| Payback | 7.1 yrs | 6.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $158,396 | $231,568 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, McDaniel College or Washington College?
McDaniel College, at $21,916 a year after aid versus $27,898 — a gap of $5,982 a year, or $23,928 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 McDaniel College or Washington College graduates earn more?
Washington College graduates report a median $65,518 ten years after entry, $4,855 more than the $60,663 at McDaniel 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, McDaniel College or Washington College?
McDaniel 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 63% at McDaniel 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.