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Cecil College — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · North East, MD · 1,363 students

The verdict

Cecil College charges a net price of $9,658/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $19,316. Median earnings ten years after entry are $43,952, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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On institution-wide earnings, Cecil College does not clear its cost — it ranks #33 of 52 Maryland colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.

$9,658
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$43,952
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
Payback
Our math, 2026
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Cecil College: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$9,658/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (2 yrs)$19,316our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$43,952Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline-$4,408/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$9,536Scorecard, 2026
Paybackdoes not clearour math
20-year net return-$107,476our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Cecil College's own numbers. Net price $9,658 × 2 years = $19,316 total. Median earnings $43,952 fall $4,408 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $19,316 bill in about 1.9 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.

How much debt do Cecil College students graduate with?

A median $9,536 in federal loans among completers, or 22% of the $43,952 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Cecil College students graduate?

37% finish their degree — 63% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $19,316 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $52,205 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Cecil College expensive compared with other Maryland colleges?

Its $9,658 net price runs $7,920 below the $17,578 median across the 52 Maryland colleges we profile, and $15,840 less across the full degree.

Cecil College: frequently asked questions

Is Cecil College worth the cost?
On institution-wide earnings, the degree does not clear its cost: graduates earn a median $43,952, at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. The field you study matters far more here than the school average — a high-paying major can flip the math.
How long does a Cecil College degree take to pay off?
On institution-wide earnings it does not pay back, because median earnings sit at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. A specific high-ROI program can still pay off.
How much does Cecil College cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $9,658/yr — about $19,316 over 2 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Cecil College compare to other Maryland colleges?
It ranks #33 of 52 Maryland colleges we track by payback. Its $43,952 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $9,658 net price is below the national median of $16,902.