Frederick Community College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Frederick Community College charges a net price of $9,465/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $18,930. Median earnings ten years after entry are $46,449, 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, Frederick Community College does not clear its cost — it ranks #27 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) | $9,465/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $18,930 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $46,449 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$1,911/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $8,150 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$57,150 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Frederick Community College's own numbers. Net price $9,465 × 2 years = $18,930 total. Median earnings $46,449 fall $1,911 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 $18,930 bill in about 1.9 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Frederick Community College students graduate with?
A median $8,150 in federal loans among completers, or 18% of the $46,449 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Frederick Community College students graduate?
37% finish their degree — 63% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $18,930 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $51,162 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Frederick Community College expensive compared with other Maryland colleges?
Its $9,465 net price runs $8,113 below the $17,578 median across the 52 Maryland colleges we profile, and $16,226 less across the full degree.