Anne Arundel Community College vs North American Trade Schools: 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 $39,756 at North American Trade Schools. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Anne Arundel Community College | North American Trade Schools |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,915 | $8,597 |
| Total net cost | $29,830 | $34,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,219 | $39,756 |
| Median debt | $8,250 | $7,338 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$72,650 | -$206,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Anne Arundel Community College or North American Trade Schools?
North American Trade Schools, at $8,597 a year after aid versus $14,915 — a gap of $6,318 a year, or $4,558 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 North American Trade Schools graduates earn more?
Anne Arundel Community College graduates report a median $46,219 ten years after entry, $6,463 more than the $39,756 at North American Trade Schools. 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 North American Trade Schools?
North American Trade Schools: its completers carry a median $7,338 in federal loans versus $8,250 at Anne Arundel Community College, a difference of $912. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at North American Trade Schools, 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.