Washington College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Washington College charges a net price of $27,898/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $111,592. Graduates earn a median $65,518 ten years after entry, $17,158/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 6.5 years — a 20-year net return of $231,568, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Washington College's 6.5-year payback ranks #578 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 55% of them, and #15 of 52 in Maryland.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $27,898/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $111,592 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $65,518 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $17,158/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,956 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 6.5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $231,568 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Washington College's own numbers. Net price $27,898 × 4 years = $111,592 total. Median earnings $65,518 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $17,158 a year of premium. $111,592 ÷ $17,158 = 6.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $231,568. 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 Washington College students graduate with?
A median $26,956 in federal loans among completers, or 41% of the $65,518 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Washington College students graduate?
65% finish their degree — 35% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $111,592 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $171,680 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Washington College expensive compared with other Maryland colleges?
Its $27,898 net price runs $10,320 above the $17,578 median across the 52 Maryland colleges we profile, or $41,280 more across the full degree.