College of Southern Maryland vs Carroll Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Carroll Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,349 against a $5,450 total, vs $44,435 at College of Southern Maryland. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of Southern Maryland | Carroll Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,204 | $2,725 |
| Total net cost | $36,816 | $5,450 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,435 | $44,349 |
| Median debt | $8,500 | $11,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$115,316 | -$85,670 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College of Southern Maryland or Carroll Community College?
Carroll Community College, at $2,725 a year after aid versus $9,204 — a gap of $6,479 a year, or $31,366 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 Carroll Community College graduates earn more?
College of Southern Maryland graduates report a median $44,435 ten years after entry, $86 more than the $44,349 at Carroll 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 leaves students with less debt, College of Southern Maryland or Carroll Community College?
College of Southern Maryland: its completers carry a median $8,500 in federal loans versus $11,750 at Carroll Community College, a difference of $3,250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
39% of students finish at Carroll Community College, against 33% at College of Southern Maryland. 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.