Head-to-head comparison
University of Maryland Eastern Shore vs Carroll Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Princess Anne, MD
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- Net price / year
- $13,338
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,697
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Westminster, MD
Carroll Community College
- Net price / year
- $2,725
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,349
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Maryland Eastern Shore comes closer — median earnings $47,697 against a $53,352 total, vs $44,349 at Carroll Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Maryland Eastern Shore | Carroll Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,338 | $2,725 |
| Total net cost | $53,352 | $5,450 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,697 | $44,349 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $11,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$66,612 | -$85,670 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Maryland Eastern Shore or Carroll Community College?
Carroll Community College, at $2,725 a year after aid versus $13,338 — a gap of $10,613 a year, or $47,902 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 Eastern Shore or Carroll Community College graduates earn more?
University of Maryland Eastern Shore graduates report a median $47,697 ten years after entry, $3,348 more than the $44,349 at Carroll Community 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, University of Maryland Eastern Shore or Carroll Community College?
Carroll Community College: its completers carry a median $11,750 in federal loans versus $27,000 at University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a difference of $15,250. 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?
39% of students finish at Carroll Community College, against 35% at University of Maryland Eastern Shore. 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.