At $29,095/yr net price, Washington College graduates earn $65,518/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $31,518/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $29,095 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $116,380 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $65,518/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$31,518/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.7 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 74.1% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $26,956 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,498/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,675/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $25,670/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $31,138/yr |
| $110,001+ | $35,886/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science. | Bachelor | $63,005 | |
| Mathematics. | Bachelor | $57,318 | |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Bachelor | $53,045 | $27,000 |
| Economics. | Bachelor | $46,087 | $27,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor | $41,565 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor | $40,188 | |
| International Relations and National Security Studies. | Bachelor | $37,208 | |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $35,926 | $27,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Bachelor | $33,993 | $26,529 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor | $33,993 | $27,000 |
The Risk Factor
74.1% of students at Washington College graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 26% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Washington College gives you a moderate financial return with a private-college price tag. At roughly $29,000 a year in net price, you graduate with median debt near $27,000, and ten years out the median earner clears about $65,500. That gap works in your favor, but the margin is thinner than the sticker suggests, and it depends heavily on what you study.
Computer science is the clear payoff here, topping the earnings list and comfortably beating the mid-$50,000s that business and math graduates land. Math holds its own too. Business and economics sit in the middle, and both carry debt around $27,000, so you're borrowing full freight for a middling paycheck. Romance languages sits at the bottom near $41,500, which barely outruns your debt load and makes the four-year cost hard to justify on financial terms alone.
The main risk is program choice, not completion. A 74% grad rate and 87% retention mean you're likely to finish, so the danger isn't dropping out with debt and no degree. The danger is finishing in a low-earning major and paying private-school prices for it. Chestertown is a small Eastern Shore town, so the higher-paying computing and finance jobs are mostly elsewhere, and you should plan to relocate for them.
The net price tiers reward lower incomes sharply. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay around $13,500 a year. between $75,000 and $110,000 you cross the full net price and pay over $31,000. Above $110,000, expect close to $36,000 a year.
This school fits you if you're targeting computer science or math, or if you qualify for the lower income tiers. If you're set on languages or humanities and your family lands in the top brackets, the numbers here are hard to defend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Washington College worth the cost compared to other schools?
Washington College graduates earn $65,518 ten years after graduation, which is modest for a $29,095 annual net price. The 74% graduation rate and $26,956 median debt are reasonable, but the overall return on investment falls short of many comparable private colleges.
What are the best paying majors at Washington College?
Computer Science leads with $63,005 average earnings, followed by Mathematics at $57,318. Business majors earn $53,045, while Romance Languages graduates average just $41,565, making program choice critical for financial outcomes.
How much debt do Washington College students typically graduate with?
The median debt is $26,956, which is manageable compared to many private colleges. With graduates earning $65,518 after ten years, most students can handle the debt load if they choose higher-paying majors.
Does Washington College provide good financial aid to make it affordable?
The net price of $29,095 suggests decent financial aid since the sticker price is higher. However, this still represents a significant investment for middle-income families, especially given the modest post-graduation earnings.