Carroll Community College
#1 Most Affordable Colleges in Maryland- Graduation Rate
- 43% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,349 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $2,725 A+
- 84% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,990
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 90.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $90.3 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Most Affordable Colleges in Maryland.
Every $1 spent returns $90.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $972,881.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Graduation of 43% — 24% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $90.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Carroll Community College Matters
Carroll Community College is a public community college in Westminster, MD and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,990
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Carroll Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $2,725 a year after grants and scholarships — 84% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,349 ten years after enrolling — 9% above the typical college, against $11,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 94% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.66 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Carroll Community College is an accessible option for students looking to dive into practical fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Computer Science. With about 1,990 students enrolled, this school supports a diverse range of interests, emphasizing hands-on learning and community engagement. Whether you're looking to upskill or start fresh, the curriculum here is tailored for those ready to make a meaningful impact in their careers.
Looking at what happens after graduation, the financial outlook is promising. Alumni earn an average of $44,349 ten years after completing their studies. This figure is a solid reminder that the education received at Carroll can lead to a stable income. The affordability of the experience is also a plus, with a net price of just $2,725 after aid. This pricing structure makes it easier for graduates to manage their financial commitments, especially when considering the median debt of $11,750.
When it comes to the practical aspects, students who thrive here tend to be those who appreciate a supportive environment that prioritizes career readiness. The low net price means students are less likely to graduate with heavy debt, allowing for a smoother transition into the workforce. With only 15% of students receiving Pell Grants, the college is a good fit for those who are self-motivated and ready to take charge of their futures without excessive financial strain.
Rankings
- #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Maryland
- #3 Best Education Colleges in Maryland
- #5 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Maryland
- #6 Best Colleges in Maryland
- #6 Best Online Colleges in Maryland
- #7 Best Business Colleges in Maryland
- #11 Best Computer Science Colleges in Maryland
- #11 Best Data Science Colleges in Maryland
Can I Get In?
How selective Carroll Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Carroll Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Carroll Community College, located in Westminster, Maryland, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
- Retention Rate
- 74%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 41%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,556
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.44
- First-Gen Students
- 41%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Carroll Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Carroll Community College is $10,158, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $2,725. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,167 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,308
- Out-of-State
- $10,158
- Avg Net Price
- $2,725
- Median Debt
- $11,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 15%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 4%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,167
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $1,999
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $2,638
- Family Income $110K+
- $8,557
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Carroll Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Carroll Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Carroll Community College report median earnings of $44,349, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $40,447
- 8 Years
- $41,976
- 10 Years
- $44,349
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 45%
- Earning > $25K
- 56%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (95)
- 24%
- 100% (95)
- 24%
- 100% (95)
- 24%
- 100% (95)
- 24%
How Carroll Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Carroll Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Carroll Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $2,725/year ($10,900 total). Graduates earn $44,349 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $983,781 in total earnings — a net gain of $972,881 (90.3× your investment). The median debt is $11,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 43% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $10,900
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $983,781
- Net Return
- $972,881
- ROI Multiple
- 90.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $2,725
- Median Debt
- $11,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 43%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Carroll Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Carroll Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.60%, a more modest figure. About 4.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 12.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.60%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 12.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $125,132
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $15,341
Top Programs
The fields Carroll Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 44%
- Health Professions 17% $70,446 early-career
- Business & Marketing 13%
- Computer Science & IT 8%
- Criminal Justice 4%
- Education 3%
- Engineering 3%
- Biology & Biomedical 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Carroll Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Carroll Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Carroll Community College, located in Westminster, Maryland, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Carroll Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Carroll Community College is $10,158, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $2,725. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,167 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,750 in federal student loans.
Is Carroll Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Carroll Community College report median earnings of $44,349, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Carroll Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Carroll Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.60%, a more modest figure. About 4.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 12.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Carroll Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Carroll Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.66, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Carroll Community College.
- Minnesota North CollegeHibbing, MN · Close peer42% grad $45,570 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Ridgewater CollegeWillmar, MN · Close peer48% grad $43,827 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Kishwaukee CollegeMalta, IL · Close peer42% grad $39,657 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Honolulu Community CollegeHonolulu, HI · Close peer30% grad $45,105 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- South Central CollegeNorth Mankato, MN · Close peer34% grad $45,068 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Sussex County Community CollegeNewton, NJ · Close peer40% grad $44,664 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Carroll Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Carroll Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.66, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note