Head-to-head comparison
Montgomery College vs St. Mary's College of Maryland: 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 St. Mary's City, MD
St. Mary's College of Maryland
- Net price / year
- $18,441
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,110
- Payback
- 6.3 yrs
St. Mary's College of Maryland has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $73,764 in 6.3 years versus 8.9 years at Montgomery College, on median earnings of $60,110 vs $50,159 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Montgomery College | St. Mary's College of Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,027 | $18,441 |
| Total net cost | $16,054 | $73,764 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,159 | $60,110 |
| Median debt | $10,415 | $21,000 |
| Payback | 8.9 yrs | 6.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $19,926 | $161,236 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Montgomery College or St. Mary's College of Maryland?
Montgomery College, at $8,027 a year after aid versus $18,441 — a gap of $10,414 a year, or $57,710 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 St. Mary's College of Maryland graduates earn more?
St. Mary's College of Maryland graduates report a median $60,110 ten years after entry, $9,951 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 St. Mary's College of Maryland?
Montgomery College: its completers carry a median $10,415 in federal loans versus $21,000 at St. Mary's College of Maryland, a difference of $10,585. 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?
70% of students finish at St. Mary's College of Maryland, 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.