Baltimore City Community College vs Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Baltimore City Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,025 against a $31,974 total, vs $38,683 at Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Baltimore City Community College | Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,987 | $34,306 |
| Total net cost | $31,974 | $137,224 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,025 | $38,683 |
| Median debt | — | $11,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$278,674 | -$330,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Baltimore City Community College or Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia?
Baltimore City Community College, at $15,987 a year after aid versus $34,306 — a gap of $18,319 a year, or $105,250 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 Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia graduates earn more?
Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia graduates report a median $38,683 ten years after entry, $2,658 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?
68% of students finish at Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia, 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.