Head-to-head comparison
Morgan State University vs Bowie State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Baltimore, MD
Morgan State University
- Net price / year
- $14,985
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,698
- Payback
- 25.6 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 25.6 years at Morgan State University, on median earnings of $54,537 vs $50,698 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Morgan State University | Bowie State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,985 | $19,298 |
| Total net cost | $59,940 | $77,192 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,698 | $54,537 |
| Median debt | $27,250 | $22,985 |
| Payback | 25.6 yrs | 12.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$13,180 | $46,348 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Morgan State University or Bowie State University?
Morgan State University, at $14,985 a year after aid versus $19,298 — a gap of $4,313 a year, or $17,252 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 Morgan State University or Bowie State University graduates earn more?
Bowie State University graduates report a median $54,537 ten years after entry, $3,839 more than the $50,698 at Morgan State University. 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, Morgan State University or Bowie State University?
Bowie State University: its completers carry a median $22,985 in federal loans versus $27,250 at Morgan State University, a difference of $4,265. 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?
41% of students finish at Morgan State University, against 38% at Bowie State University. 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.