Frostburg State University
Frostburg, Maryland · Public · 89.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 54/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Frostburg State University in western Maryland scores ROI 54 (Below Average Value) - a regional public with 2,909 undergraduates in Allegany County, roughly 2.5 hours from Baltimore. Median 6-year earnings land at $33,800, rising to $55,493 at 10 years. The payback period is 10.1 years and the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.624 - both above what a public school at this net price ($16,715) should be generating. The completion rate of 49.7% is the school's most alarming figure: barely half of enrolled students graduate. Registered Nursing (107 graduates, B+ ROI grade) and Engineering (28 graduates, B ROI grade) are the clearest bright spots; the school's high-enrollment programs in Liberal Arts (67 grads, D grade), Kinesiology (30 grads, F grade), and Psychology (64 grads, D grade) all post poor debt-to-earnings ratios. Frostburg's rural Maryland setting limits local labor market access, making graduate placement partially dependent on willingness to relocate to Baltimore-Washington.
Frostburg State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,220/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $25,814/yr |
| Average net price | $16,715/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $66,860 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,493 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,105 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $224 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 49.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,909 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $10,220/year ($25,814/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $16,715/year, or roughly $66,860 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,129/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,297/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $21,105 in federal loans, which works out to about $224 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $55,493 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.62, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,129 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,240 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,709 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,727 |
| $110,001+ | $23,297 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $12,129 per year - the lowest net price across all bands, reflecting Maryland TAP and Pell stacking. Over four years that is roughly $48,516. Given the 49.7% completion rate, a low-income student who does not graduate faces debt on a fraction of the value. For a nursing student who completes, the math is very favorable: $12,129/year in cost against $82,617 at year-one earnings.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket pays $12,240 - nearly identical to the lowest bracket. The 48,001-75,000 bracket rises to $15,709, and the 75,001-110,000 bracket climbs to $19,727. The cost slope is moderate through the middle range - about a $7,600 difference from the $30k floor to the $110k ceiling.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $23,297 per year - still below the $16,715 average net price calculation, meaning aid continues even at high incomes. Over four years that is roughly $93,188. Against 10-year median earnings of $55,493, high-income families placing students in low-earning majors face a slow payback. Engineering and nursing graduates at these costs still deliver positive lifetime ROI.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Frostburg State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $86,331 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $61,002 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $53,934 | D |
| Psychology | $50,210 | D |
| Teacher Education | $51,478 | C+ |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $62,767 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $56,668 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $46,862 | F |
| Engineering, General | $99,671 | B |
| Genetics | $43,434 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
With 107 graduates per year, Nursing is Frostburg's largest program and its clearest ROI case. Median 1-year earnings of $82,617 and 4-year earnings of $86,331 reflect demand from Western Maryland Health System and the broader mid-Atlantic healthcare market. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.275 (ROI grade B+) with $22,750 median debt is excellent by any measure - graduates carry relatively low debt against high earnings. At Maryland in-state tuition ($10,220), Frostburg nursing may be the best financial value in western Maryland for students who can gain admission and complete the program.
Engineering, General
Engineering produces 28 graduates per year with median 1-year earnings of $62,968 and 4-year earnings of $99,671 - the strongest 4-year trajectory on campus. The 0.377 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B) against $23,750 median debt is controlled. Frostburg's engineering program feeds primarily into Maryland's industrial base and the broader Washington-Baltimore metropolitan defense and infrastructure sectors. The 4-year figure of $99,671 likely reflects engineers who moved to urban employers after graduation.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration sends 67 graduates per year into the workforce - Frostburg's second-largest program by count. Median 1-year earnings of $43,670 and 4-year earnings of $61,002 track mid-level management and commercial roles in western Maryland and the Washington-Baltimore corridor. The 0.595 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade C) signals the program is functional but not exceptional. Students who use Frostburg's business degree as a base and pursue MBA or CPA certification in the Baltimore-Washington market will outperform the Scorecard median; students who stay in western Maryland face a more limited salary environment.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 62.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 68.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 72.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Frostburg State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 89.2% |
| Enrollment | 2,909 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 32.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,386 |
This school does not report admissions selectivity data (no SAT/ACT bands in Scorecard). The 89.2% admission rate signals near-open enrollment. The relevant filter for prospective students is not admission odds but completion odds: the 49.7% graduation rate is the key number.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Frostburg State (ROI 54) sits below University of Baltimore (ROI 64, earn6yr $45,100) and Keene State College (ROI 53, earn6yr $36,100). SUNY Delhi and Plymouth State are comparable regional publics in the Scorecard peer set. Frostburg's 49.7% completion rate is the starkest weakness in any peer comparison - most comparable regional publics complete 55-65% of students. The nursing program anchors Frostburg's score above what the general completion and earnings data would otherwise generate.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frostburg State University (this school) | 54 | $16,715 | $55,493 |
| University of Baltimore | 64 | $13,868 | $61,335 |
| Keene State College | 53 | $17,887 | $54,368 |
| Plymouth State University | 52 | $19,216 | $57,304 |
| SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | 52 | $17,225 | $51,629 |
| Bowie State University | 40 | $19,298 | $54,537 |
Who Thrives Here
Frostburg serves students who need Maryland public pricing and live in the western Maryland or surrounding Appalachian region. SAT and ACT bands are not reported. With 32.2% Pell recipients, this is a working-class school serving students for whom cost is a primary factor. The 49.7% completion rate is the harshest self-sorting mechanism on this list - nearly half of students who enroll will not graduate. Students who come in with nursing or engineering as a declared major and the academic preparation to complete those programs have genuine pathways; students who come in undecided face real risk.
Transfer Pathways
Frostburg State participates in Maryland's statewide transfer pathways, with articulation agreements with community colleges across the state including Allegany College of Maryland. Students completing an Associate's degree with strong GPA can transfer to Frostburg with junior standing and apply directly to competitive programs like nursing.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Frostburg State University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $16,715 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $55,493 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.1 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: its 49.7% graduation rate, concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $21,105 against $55,493 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.