McDaniel College vs Hood College: which has better ROI?
McDaniel College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $87,664 in 7.1 years versus 9.6 years at Hood College, on median earnings of $60,663 vs $57,089 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | McDaniel College | Hood College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,916 | $20,873 |
| Total net cost | $87,664 | $83,492 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,663 | $57,089 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 7.1 yrs | 9.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $158,396 | $91,088 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, McDaniel College or Hood College?
Hood College, at $20,873 a year after aid versus $21,916 — a gap of $1,043 a year, or $4,172 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do McDaniel College or Hood College graduates earn more?
McDaniel College graduates report a median $60,663 ten years after entry, $3,574 more than the $57,089 at Hood 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, McDaniel College or Hood College?
Completers at both borrow a median $25,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
63% of students finish at McDaniel College, against 57% at Hood 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.