Head-to-head comparison
University of Maryland-College Park vs Community College of Baltimore County: which has better ROI?
Option A College Park, MD
University of Maryland-College Park
- Net price / year
- $15,678
- Earnings, 10 years
- $82,860
- Payback
- 1.8 yrs
Option B Baltimore, MD
Community College of Baltimore County
- Net price / year
- $9,844
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,729
- Payback
- No payback
University of Maryland-College Park has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $62,712 in 1.8 years versus not at all at Community College of Baltimore County, on median earnings of $82,860 vs $43,729 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Maryland-College Park | Community College of Baltimore County |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,678 | $9,844 |
| Total net cost | $62,712 | $19,688 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $82,860 | $43,729 |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $11,528 |
| Payback | 1.8 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $627,288 | -$112,308 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Maryland-College Park or Community College of Baltimore County?
Community College of Baltimore County, at $9,844 a year after aid versus $15,678 — a gap of $5,834 a year, or $43,024 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-College Park or Community College of Baltimore County graduates earn more?
University of Maryland-College Park graduates report a median $82,860 ten years after entry, $39,131 more than the $43,729 at Community College of Baltimore County. 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-College Park or Community College of Baltimore County?
Community College of Baltimore County: its completers carry a median $11,528 in federal loans versus $19,000 at University of Maryland-College Park, a difference of $7,472. 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?
89% of students finish at University of Maryland-College Park, against 19% at Community College of Baltimore County. 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.