Head-to-head comparison
Stevenson University vs Frostburg State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Owings Mills, MD
Stevenson University
- Net price / year
- $26,505
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,079
- Payback
- 7.7 yrs
Option B Frostburg, MD
Frostburg State University
- Net price / year
- $16,715
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,493
- Payback
- 9.4 yrs
Stevenson University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $106,020 in 7.7 years versus 9.4 years at Frostburg State University, on median earnings of $62,079 vs $55,493 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Stevenson University | Frostburg State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,505 | $16,715 |
| Total net cost | $106,020 | $66,860 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,079 | $55,493 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $21,105 |
| Payback | 7.7 yrs | 9.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $168,360 | $75,800 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Stevenson University or Frostburg State University?
Frostburg State University, at $16,715 a year after aid versus $26,505 — a gap of $9,790 a year, or $39,160 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 Stevenson University or Frostburg State University graduates earn more?
Stevenson University graduates report a median $62,079 ten years after entry, $6,586 more than the $55,493 at Frostburg 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, Stevenson University or Frostburg State University?
Frostburg State University: its completers carry a median $21,105 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Stevenson University, a difference of $4,895. 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?
68% of students finish at Stevenson University, against 50% at Frostburg 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.