Baltimore City 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 $36,025 at Baltimore City Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Baltimore City Community College | University of Maryland Eastern Shore |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,987 | $13,338 |
| Total net cost | $31,974 | $53,352 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,025 | $47,697 |
| Median debt | — | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$278,674 | -$66,612 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Baltimore City Community College or University of Maryland Eastern Shore?
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, at $13,338 a year after aid versus $15,987 — a gap of $2,649 a year, or $21,378 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 University of Maryland Eastern Shore graduates earn more?
University of Maryland Eastern Shore graduates report a median $47,697 ten years after entry, $11,672 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 University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 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.