Head-to-head comparison
Stevenson University vs Washington 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 Chestertown, MD
Washington College
- Net price / year
- $27,898
- Earnings, 10 years
- $65,518
- Payback
- 6.5 yrs
Washington College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $111,592 in 6.5 years versus 7.7 years at Stevenson University, on median earnings of $65,518 vs $62,079 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Stevenson University | Washington College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,505 | $27,898 |
| Total net cost | $106,020 | $111,592 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,079 | $65,518 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $26,956 |
| Payback | 7.7 yrs | 6.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $168,360 | $231,568 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Stevenson University or Washington College?
Stevenson University, at $26,505 a year after aid versus $27,898 — a gap of $1,393 a year, or $5,572 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 Washington College graduates earn more?
Washington College graduates report a median $65,518 ten years after entry, $3,439 more than the $62,079 at Stevenson 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 Washington College?
Stevenson University: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $26,956 at Washington College, a difference of $956. 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 65% at Washington 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.