Cecil College vs North American Trade Schools: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cecil College comes closer — median earnings $43,952 against a $19,316 total, vs $39,756 at North American Trade Schools. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cecil College | North American Trade Schools |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,658 | $8,597 |
| Total net cost | $19,316 | $34,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,952 | $39,756 |
| Median debt | $9,536 | $7,338 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$107,476 | -$206,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cecil College or North American Trade Schools?
North American Trade Schools, at $8,597 a year after aid versus $9,658 — a gap of $1,061 a year, or $15,072 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Cecil College or North American Trade Schools graduates earn more?
Cecil College graduates report a median $43,952 ten years after entry, $4,196 more than the $39,756 at North American Trade Schools. 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, Cecil College or North American Trade Schools?
North American Trade Schools: its completers carry a median $7,338 in federal loans versus $9,536 at Cecil College, a difference of $2,198. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at North American Trade Schools, against 37% at Cecil 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.