Allegany College of Maryland vs Garrett College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Allegany College of Maryland comes closer — median earnings $38,476 against a $17,638 total, vs $35,823 at Garrett College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Allegany College of Maryland | Garrett College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,819 | $9,228 |
| Total net cost | $17,638 | $18,456 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,476 | $35,823 |
| Median debt | $13,702 | $10,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$215,318 | -$269,196 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Allegany College of Maryland or Garrett College?
Allegany College of Maryland, at $8,819 a year after aid versus $9,228 — a gap of $409 a year, or $818 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Allegany College of Maryland or Garrett College graduates earn more?
Allegany College of Maryland graduates report a median $38,476 ten years after entry, $2,653 more than the $35,823 at Garrett College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Allegany College of Maryland or Garrett College?
Garrett College: its completers carry a median $10,750 in federal loans versus $13,702 at Allegany College of Maryland, a difference of $2,952. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
40% of students finish at Allegany College of Maryland, against 34% at Garrett College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.