Towson University vs Community College of Baltimore County: which has better ROI?
Towson University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $69,652 in 4.3 years versus not at all at Community College of Baltimore County, on median earnings of $64,390 vs $43,729 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Towson University | Community College of Baltimore County |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,413 | $9,844 |
| Total net cost | $69,652 | $19,688 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,390 | $43,729 |
| Median debt | $18,718 | $11,528 |
| Payback | 4.3 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $250,948 | -$112,308 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Towson University or Community College of Baltimore County?
Community College of Baltimore County, at $9,844 a year after aid versus $17,413 — a gap of $7,569 a year, or $49,964 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Towson University or Community College of Baltimore County graduates earn more?
Towson University graduates report a median $64,390 ten years after entry, $20,661 more than the $43,729 at Community College of Baltimore County. 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, Towson University or Community College of Baltimore County?
Community College of Baltimore County: its completers carry a median $11,528 in federal loans versus $18,718 at Towson University, a difference of $7,190. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Towson University, against 19% at Community College of Baltimore County. 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.