Baltimore City Community College vs North American Trade Schools: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but North American Trade Schools comes closer — median earnings $39,756 against a $34,388 total, vs $36,025 at Baltimore City Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Baltimore City Community College | North American Trade Schools |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,987 | $8,597 |
| Total net cost | $31,974 | $34,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,025 | $39,756 |
| Median debt | — | $7,338 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$278,674 | -$206,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Baltimore City Community College or North American Trade Schools?
North American Trade Schools, at $8,597 a year after aid versus $15,987 — a gap of $7,390 a year, or $2,414 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 North American Trade Schools graduates earn more?
North American Trade Schools graduates report a median $39,756 ten years after entry, $3,731 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?
69% of students finish at North American Trade Schools, 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.