College of Southern Maryland vs Baltimore City Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of Southern Maryland comes closer — median earnings $44,435 against a $36,816 total, vs $36,025 at Baltimore City Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of Southern Maryland | Baltimore City Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,204 | $15,987 |
| Total net cost | $36,816 | $31,974 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,435 | $36,025 |
| Median debt | $8,500 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$115,316 | -$278,674 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College of Southern Maryland or Baltimore City Community College?
College of Southern Maryland, at $9,204 a year after aid versus $15,987 — a gap of $6,783 a year, or $4,842 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do College of Southern Maryland or Baltimore City Community College graduates earn more?
College of Southern Maryland graduates report a median $44,435 ten years after entry, $8,410 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?
33% of students finish at College of Southern Maryland, 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.