Baltimore City Community College vs Maryland Institute College of Art: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Maryland Institute College of Art comes closer — median earnings $45,212 against a $170,916 total, vs $36,025 at Baltimore City Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Baltimore City Community College | Maryland Institute College of Art |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,987 | $42,729 |
| Total net cost | $31,974 | $170,916 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,025 | $45,212 |
| Median debt | — | $26,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$278,674 | -$233,876 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Baltimore City Community College or Maryland Institute College of Art?
Baltimore City Community College, at $15,987 a year after aid versus $42,729 — a gap of $26,742 a year, or $138,942 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 Maryland Institute College of Art graduates earn more?
Maryland Institute College of Art graduates report a median $45,212 ten years after entry, $9,187 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?
72% of students finish at Maryland Institute College of Art, 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.