McDaniel College vs St. Mary's College of Maryland: which has better ROI?
St. Mary's College of Maryland has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $73,764 in 6.3 years versus 7.1 years at McDaniel College, on median earnings of $60,110 vs $60,663 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | McDaniel College | St. Mary's College of Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,916 | $18,441 |
| Total net cost | $87,664 | $73,764 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,663 | $60,110 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $21,000 |
| Payback | 7.1 yrs | 6.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $158,396 | $161,236 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, McDaniel College or St. Mary's College of Maryland?
St. Mary's College of Maryland, at $18,441 a year after aid versus $21,916 — a gap of $3,475 a year, or $13,900 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 St. Mary's College of Maryland graduates earn more?
McDaniel College graduates report a median $60,663 ten years after entry, $553 more than the $60,110 at St. Mary's College of Maryland. 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 St. Mary's College of Maryland?
St. Mary's College of Maryland: its completers carry a median $21,000 in federal loans versus $25,000 at McDaniel College, a difference of $4,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at St. Mary's College of Maryland, against 63% at McDaniel 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.