Head-to-head comparison
Stevenson University vs Hood College: 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 Frederick, MD
Hood College
- Net price / year
- $20,873
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,089
- Payback
- 9.6 yrs
Stevenson University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $106,020 in 7.7 years versus 9.6 years at Hood College, on median earnings of $62,079 vs $57,089 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Stevenson University | Hood College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,505 | $20,873 |
| Total net cost | $106,020 | $83,492 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,079 | $57,089 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 7.7 yrs | 9.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $168,360 | $91,088 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Stevenson University or Hood College?
Hood College, at $20,873 a year after aid versus $26,505 — a gap of $5,632 a year, or $22,528 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 Hood College graduates earn more?
Stevenson University graduates report a median $62,079 ten years after entry, $4,990 more than the $57,089 at Hood 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, Stevenson University or Hood College?
Hood College: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Stevenson University, a difference of $1,000. 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 57% at Hood 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.