Anne Arundel Community College vs College of Southern Maryland: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Anne Arundel Community College comes closer — median earnings $46,219 against a $29,830 total, vs $44,435 at College of Southern Maryland. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Anne Arundel Community College | College of Southern Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,915 | $9,204 |
| Total net cost | $29,830 | $36,816 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,219 | $44,435 |
| Median debt | $8,250 | $8,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$72,650 | -$115,316 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Anne Arundel Community College or College of Southern Maryland?
College of Southern Maryland, at $9,204 a year after aid versus $14,915 — a gap of $5,711 a year, or $6,986 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Anne Arundel Community College or College of Southern Maryland graduates earn more?
Anne Arundel Community College graduates report a median $46,219 ten years after entry, $1,784 more than the $44,435 at College of Southern Maryland. 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, Anne Arundel Community College or College of Southern Maryland?
Anne Arundel Community College: its completers carry a median $8,250 in federal loans versus $8,500 at College of Southern Maryland, a difference of $250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
33% of students finish at College of Southern Maryland, against 31% at Anne Arundel Community 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.