Head-to-head comparison
Montgomery College vs McDaniel College: 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 Westminster, MD
McDaniel College
- Net price / year
- $21,916
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,663
- Payback
- 7.1 yrs
McDaniel College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $87,664 in 7.1 years versus 8.9 years at Montgomery College, on median earnings of $60,663 vs $50,159 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Montgomery College | McDaniel College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,027 | $21,916 |
| Total net cost | $16,054 | $87,664 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,159 | $60,663 |
| Median debt | $10,415 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 8.9 yrs | 7.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $19,926 | $158,396 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Montgomery College or McDaniel College?
Montgomery College, at $8,027 a year after aid versus $21,916 — a gap of $13,889 a year, or $71,610 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 McDaniel College graduates earn more?
McDaniel College graduates report a median $60,663 ten years after entry, $10,504 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 McDaniel College?
Montgomery College: its completers carry a median $10,415 in federal loans versus $25,000 at McDaniel College, a difference of $14,585. 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?
63% of students finish at McDaniel College, 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.