Baltimore City Community College vs Chesapeake College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Chesapeake College comes closer — median earnings $36,301 against a $10,212 total, vs $36,025 at Baltimore City Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Baltimore City Community College | Chesapeake College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,987 | $5,106 |
| Total net cost | $31,974 | $10,212 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,025 | $36,301 |
| Median debt | — | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$278,674 | -$251,392 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Baltimore City Community College or Chesapeake College?
Chesapeake College, at $5,106 a year after aid versus $15,987 — a gap of $10,881 a year, or $21,762 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Baltimore City Community College or Chesapeake College graduates earn more?
Chesapeake College graduates report a median $36,301 ten years after entry, $276 more than the $36,025 at Baltimore City 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 graduates more of its students?
35% of students finish at Chesapeake College, against 17% at Baltimore City 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.