College of Southern Maryland — ROI, Cost & Payback
College of Southern Maryland charges a net price of $9,204/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $36,816. Median earnings ten years after entry are $44,435, 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.)
On institution-wide earnings, College of Southern Maryland does not clear its cost — it ranks #35 of 52 Maryland colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $9,204/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $36,816 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $44,435 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$3,925/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $8,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$115,316 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on College of Southern Maryland's own numbers. Net price $9,204 × 4 years = $36,816 total. Median earnings $44,435 fall $3,925 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 $36,816 bill in about 3.7 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do College of Southern Maryland students graduate with?
A median $8,500 in federal loans among completers, or 19% of the $44,435 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of College of Southern Maryland students graduate?
33% finish their degree — 67% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $36,816 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $111,564 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is College of Southern Maryland expensive compared with other Maryland colleges?
Its $9,204 net price runs $8,374 below the $17,578 median across the 52 Maryland colleges we profile, and $33,496 less across the full degree.