Garrett College
#7 Best Engineering Colleges in Maryland- Graduation Rate
- 33% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $35,823 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $9,228 B+
- 46% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 411
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 25.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $25.5 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Best Engineering Colleges in Maryland.
Every $1 spent returns $25.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $903,360.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 33% — 42% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $25.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Garrett College Matters
Garrett College is a public community college in McHenry, MD and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
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
- 411
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Garrett 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 $9,228 a year after grants and scholarships — 46% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $35,823 ten years after enrolling — 12% below the typical college, against $10,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 29% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.17 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Garrett College, located in scenic McHenry, Maryland, caters to a tight-knit community of just 411 students. It’s an ideal fit for those who thrive in smaller settings and are looking for personalized attention in their studies. Students here often pursue fields like Humanities, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Health Professions, and Education, making it a versatile choice for a range of academic interests.
After graduation, students earn a median income of $35,823 within ten years, which provides a solid starting point for many. While the graduation rate sits at 33%, those who do graduate often find themselves moving up in their careers. The affordability of attending Garrett is noteworthy, especially with a net price of $9,228, making it accessible for a diverse student body, including 31% of students receiving Pell Grants.
When considering the financial aspect, the average debt load of $10,750 is manageable for many graduates, allowing them to focus on their careers rather than overwhelming financial burdens. Students who tend to thrive here are those who appreciate a community-oriented environment and seek a practical education that prepares them for specific careers. With a supportive atmosphere and a focus on practical skills, Garrett College can be a launching pad for students aiming to make an impact in their chosen fields.
Rankings
- #7 Best Engineering Colleges in Maryland
- #8 Most Affordable Colleges in Maryland
- #8 Best Education Colleges in Maryland
- #19 Best Computer Science Colleges in Maryland
- #19 Best Business Colleges in Maryland
- #19 Best Data Science Colleges in Maryland
- #23 Best Nursing Colleges in Maryland
- #25 Best Colleges in Maryland
Can I Get In?
How selective Garrett 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 Garrett College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Garrett College, located in McHenry, Maryland, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.
- Retention Rate
- 50%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,597
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.41
- 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 Garrett College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Garrett College is $12,040, 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 $9,228. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,387 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,144
- Out-of-State
- $12,040
- Avg Net Price
- $9,228
- Median Debt
- $10,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 31%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 31%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,387
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,231
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,686
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,398
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 Garrett 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 Garrett College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Garrett College report median earnings of $35,823, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $28,920
- 8 Years
- $34,304
- 10 Years
- $35,823
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.3x
- Earning > $25K
- 42%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (36)
- 18%
- 100% (36)
- 18%
- 100% (36)
- 18%
- 100% (36)
- 18%
How Garrett 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 Garrett College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Garrett College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,228/year ($36,912 total). Graduates earn $35,823 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $940,272 in total earnings — a net gain of $903,360 (25.5× your investment). The median debt is $10,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 33% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $36,912
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $940,272
- Net Return
- $903,360
- ROI Multiple
- 25.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,228
- Median Debt
- $10,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 33%
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 Garrett College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Garrett College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.98%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 18.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $53,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.98%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 10.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 18.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $73,095
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $7,682,224
- Federal Grants
- $1,194,803
- Investment Income
- $1,580
Top Programs
The fields Garrett 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 34%
- Business & Marketing 15%
- Health Professions 14%
- Computer Science & IT 9%
- Education 7%
- Engineering 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Garrett 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
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Garrett College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Garrett College, located in McHenry, Maryland, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Garrett College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Garrett College is $12,040, 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 $9,228. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,387 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,750 in federal student loans.
Is Garrett College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Garrett College report median earnings of $35,823, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Garrett College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Garrett College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.98%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 18.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $53,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Garrett 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 Garrett College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.17, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), 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 Garrett College.
- Clinton Community CollegePlattsburgh, NY · Close peer28% grad $39,246 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lamar Community CollegeLamar, CO · Close peer48% grad $38,719 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Glen Oaks Community CollegeCentreville, MI · Close peer40% grad $37,540 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Dakota College at BottineauBottineau, ND · Close peer51% grad $40,576 earnWhy: similar size · similar net price
- Belmont CollegeSt Clairsville, OH · Close peer41% grad $35,329 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Louisburg CollegeLouisburg, NC · Close peer29% grad $34,818 earn 56% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Garrett 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 Garrett College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.17, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), 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