St. Mary's College of Maryland vs Washington College: 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 6.5 years at Washington College, on median earnings of $60,110 vs $65,518 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | St. Mary's College of Maryland | Washington College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,441 | $27,898 |
| Total net cost | $73,764 | $111,592 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,110 | $65,518 |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $26,956 |
| Payback | 6.3 yrs | 6.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $161,236 | $231,568 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, St. Mary's College of Maryland or Washington College?
St. Mary's College of Maryland, at $18,441 a year after aid versus $27,898 — a gap of $9,457 a year, or $37,828 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do St. Mary's College of Maryland or Washington College graduates earn more?
Washington College graduates report a median $65,518 ten years after entry, $5,408 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, St. Mary's College of Maryland or Washington College?
St. Mary's College of Maryland: its completers carry a median $21,000 in federal loans versus $26,956 at Washington College, a difference of $5,956. 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 65% at Washington 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.