Bowie State University vs Goucher College: which has better ROI?
Bowie State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $77,192 in 12.5 years versus 19.3 years at Goucher College, on median earnings of $54,537 vs $53,023 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bowie State University | Goucher College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,298 | $22,470 |
| Total net cost | $77,192 | $89,880 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,537 | $53,023 |
| Median debt | $22,985 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 12.5 yrs | 19.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $46,348 | $3,380 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bowie State University or Goucher College?
Bowie State University, at $19,298 a year after aid versus $22,470 — a gap of $3,172 a year, or $12,688 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Bowie State University or Goucher College graduates earn more?
Bowie State University graduates report a median $54,537 ten years after entry, $1,514 more than the $53,023 at Goucher 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 leaves students with less debt, Bowie State University or Goucher College?
Bowie State University: its completers carry a median $22,985 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Goucher College, a difference of $3,015. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at Goucher College, against 38% at Bowie State University. 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.