Howard Community College vs Hood College: which has better ROI?
Hood College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $83,492 in 9.6 years versus 33.7 years at Howard Community College, on median earnings of $57,089 vs $49,020 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Howard Community College | Hood College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,133 | $20,873 |
| Total net cost | $22,266 | $83,492 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,020 | $57,089 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 33.7 yrs | 9.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$9,066 | $91,088 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Howard Community College or Hood College?
Howard Community College, at $11,133 a year after aid versus $20,873 — a gap of $9,740 a year, or $61,226 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Howard Community College or Hood College graduates earn more?
Hood College graduates report a median $57,089 ten years after entry, $8,069 more than the $49,020 at Howard 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, Howard Community College or Hood College?
Howard Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Hood College, a difference of $14,500. 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 Hood College, against 24% at Howard 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.