University of Maryland-College Park — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of Maryland-College Park charges a net price of $15,678/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $62,712. Graduates earn a median $82,860 ten years after entry, $34,500/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 1.8 years — a 20-year net return of $627,288, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
University of Maryland-College Park's 1.8-year payback ranks #59 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 95% of them, and #1 of 52 in Maryland.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $15,678/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $62,712 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $82,860 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $34,500/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $19,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 1.8 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $627,288 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of Maryland-College Park's own numbers. Net price $15,678 × 4 years = $62,712 total. Median earnings $82,860 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $34,500 a year of premium. $62,712 ÷ $34,500 = 1.8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $627,288. 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 University of Maryland-College Park students graduate with?
A median $19,000 in federal loans among completers, or 23% of the $82,860 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of University of Maryland-College Park students graduate?
89% finish their degree. Spread the $62,712 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $70,463 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of Maryland-College Park expensive compared with other Maryland colleges?
Its $15,678 net price runs $1,900 below the $17,578 median across the 52 Maryland colleges we profile, and $7,600 less across the full degree.