Hood College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Hood College charges a net price of $20,873/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $83,492. Graduates earn a median $57,089 ten years after entry, $8,729/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 9.6 years — a 20-year net return of $91,088, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Hood College's 9.6-year payback ranks #773 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 40% of them, and #20 of 52 in Maryland.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $20,873/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $83,492 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $57,089 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $8,729/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 9.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $91,088 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Hood College's own numbers. Net price $20,873 × 4 years = $83,492 total. Median earnings $57,089 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $8,729 a year of premium. $83,492 ÷ $8,729 = 9.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $91,088. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Hood College students graduate with?
A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 44% of the $57,089 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Hood College students graduate?
57% finish their degree — 43% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $83,492 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $146,477 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Hood College expensive compared with other Maryland colleges?
Its $20,873 net price runs $3,295 above the $17,578 median across the 52 Maryland colleges we profile, or $13,180 more across the full degree.