Head-to-head comparison
University of Maryland-Baltimore County vs Morgan State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Baltimore, MD
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
- Net price / year
- $16,467
- Earnings, 10 years
- $69,960
- Payback
- 3 yrs
Option B Baltimore, MD
Morgan State University
- Net price / year
- $14,985
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,698
- Payback
- 25.6 yrs
University of Maryland-Baltimore County has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $65,868 in 3 years versus 25.6 years at Morgan State University, on median earnings of $69,960 vs $50,698 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Maryland-Baltimore County | Morgan State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,467 | $14,985 |
| Total net cost | $65,868 | $59,940 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $69,960 | $50,698 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $27,250 |
| Payback | 3 yrs | 25.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $366,132 | -$13,180 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Maryland-Baltimore County or Morgan State University?
Morgan State University, at $14,985 a year after aid versus $16,467 — a gap of $1,482 a year, or $5,928 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 University of Maryland-Baltimore County or Morgan State University graduates earn more?
University of Maryland-Baltimore County graduates report a median $69,960 ten years after entry, $19,262 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, University of Maryland-Baltimore County or Morgan State University?
University of Maryland-Baltimore County: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $27,250 at Morgan State University, a difference of $7,750. 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 University of Maryland-Baltimore County, against 41% at Morgan 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.