Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Hagerstown Community College vs Cecil College: which has better ROI?

Public, Hagerstown MD · vs · Public, North East MD

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cecil College comes closer — median earnings $43,952 against a $19,316 total, vs $41,615 at Hagerstown Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureHagerstown Community CollegeCecil College
Net price / yr$6,835$9,658
Total net cost$13,670$19,316
Median earnings, 10 yrs$41,615$43,952
Median debt$11,000$9,536
Payback
20-year net return-$148,570-$107,476

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Hagerstown Community College or Cecil College?

Hagerstown Community College, at $6,835 a year after aid versus $9,658 — a gap of $2,823 a year, or $5,646 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Hagerstown Community College or Cecil College graduates earn more?

Cecil College graduates report a median $43,952 ten years after entry, $2,337 more than the $41,615 at Hagerstown 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, Hagerstown Community College or Cecil College?

Cecil College: its completers carry a median $9,536 in federal loans versus $11,000 at Hagerstown Community College, a difference of $1,464. 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 Hagerstown Community College, 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.

Hagerstown Community College vs Cecil College: frequently asked questions

Is Hagerstown Community College or Cecil College a better value?
Cecil College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Hagerstown Community College or Cecil College?
Hagerstown Community College: $6,835/yr net price after aid versus $9,658/yr at Cecil College — a difference of $2,823 a year, or about $5,646 over four years.
Do Hagerstown Community College or Cecil College graduates earn more?
Cecil College graduates earn a median $43,952 ten years after entry, versus $41,615 at Hagerstown Community College — a $2,337 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.