Anne Arundel Community College vs University of Maryland Eastern Shore: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Maryland Eastern Shore comes closer — median earnings $47,697 against a $53,352 total, vs $46,219 at Anne Arundel Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Anne Arundel Community College | University of Maryland Eastern Shore |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,915 | $13,338 |
| Total net cost | $29,830 | $53,352 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,219 | $47,697 |
| Median debt | $8,250 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$72,650 | -$66,612 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Anne Arundel Community College or University of Maryland Eastern Shore?
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, at $13,338 a year after aid versus $14,915 — a gap of $1,577 a year, or $23,522 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 University of Maryland Eastern Shore graduates earn more?
University of Maryland Eastern Shore graduates report a median $47,697 ten years after entry, $1,478 more than the $46,219 at Anne Arundel Community 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, Anne Arundel Community College or University of Maryland Eastern Shore?
Anne Arundel Community College: its completers carry a median $8,250 in federal loans versus $27,000 at University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a difference of $18,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
35% of students finish at University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 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.