Head-to-head comparison
Montgomery College vs Bowie State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Rockville, MD
Montgomery College
- Net price / year
- $8,027
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,159
- Payback
- 8.9 yrs
Option B Bowie, MD
Bowie State University
- Net price / year
- $19,298
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,537
- Payback
- 12.5 yrs
Montgomery College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $16,054 in 8.9 years versus 12.5 years at Bowie State University, on median earnings of $50,159 vs $54,537 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Montgomery College | Bowie State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,027 | $19,298 |
| Total net cost | $16,054 | $77,192 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,159 | $54,537 |
| Median debt | $10,415 | $22,985 |
| Payback | 8.9 yrs | 12.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $19,926 | $46,348 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Montgomery College or Bowie State University?
Montgomery College, at $8,027 a year after aid versus $19,298 — a gap of $11,271 a year, or $61,138 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 Montgomery College or Bowie State University graduates earn more?
Bowie State University graduates report a median $54,537 ten years after entry, $4,378 more than the $50,159 at Montgomery 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, Montgomery College or Bowie State University?
Montgomery College: its completers carry a median $10,415 in federal loans versus $22,985 at Bowie State University, a difference of $12,570. 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 32% at Montgomery 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.