McDaniel College
Westminster, Maryland · Private Nonprofit · 77.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 61/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
McDaniel College scores 61 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. The 63.3% completion rate is adequate but not strong, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.687 reflects a private institution where sticker tuition of $52,081 is discounted to a $21,916 net price - still significant against $36,400 average 6-year earnings. Repayment rate of 83.5% at three years is reasonable. Median debt of $25,000 is the product of four years at $21,916 net price with typical borrowing patterns. SAT and ACT data are not reported by the Scorecard for McDaniel, limiting academic benchmark visibility. The program mix is narrow given the small enrollment (1,617 students): Accounting (19 graduates, $65,941 year one, $93,347 at four years, B-grade ROI) and Business Administration (50 graduates, $59,048 year one, $78,830 at four years, B-grade ROI) are the clearest positive outcomes. Psychology (50 graduates, $60,264 at four years, B-grade ROI) shows a favorable four-year figure though year-one is not reported. Kinesiology (40 graduates, $38,122 year one), Sociology (15 graduates, $37,728 year one), Biology (24 graduates, $33,241 year one), and Communication (17 graduates, $32,402 year one) all post C-to-D-grade ROIs. McDaniel is a small liberal arts college in Westminster, Maryland, 30 miles from Baltimore - a location with proximity to Maryland state government, federal agencies, and Baltimore corporate employers that moderates outcomes for business and social science graduates.
McDaniel College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $52,081/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $52,081/yr |
| Average net price | $21,916/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $87,664 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $60,663 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,617 |
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: $52,081/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $21,916/year, or roughly $87,664 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 $12,210/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,694/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($36,400) and comes to 0.69, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $12,210 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,261 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,796 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,408 |
| $110,001+ | $30,694 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $12,210 per year at McDaniel - a meaningful aid discount from the $52,081 sticker. Four-year total of roughly $48,840 against $36,400 average earnings produces an 8.9-year payback at the institutional level. Low-income students who enter accounting or business and complete their degree can achieve positive returns. The 63.3% completion rate means one-third of enrolled students do not finish, which is a real risk for low-income students with fewer financial buffers.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $19,796 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $21,408. Middle-income families paying near $21,000 per year for a school with $36,400 average earnings should carefully select programs with clear career pathways. Accounting and business graduates at these net prices can achieve defensible ROI; humanities and social sciences graduates face meaningful financial pressure.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $30,694 per year at McDaniel - roughly $123,000 over four years. The small liberal arts experience has genuine qualitative value, but families paying near sticker should have explicit conversations about career outcomes and how the Westminster location and small alumni network support specific career goals.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at McDaniel College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $60,264 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $78,830 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $50,185 | C |
| Biology | $51,307 | C |
| Accounting | $93,347 | B |
| Social Work | $47,607 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $65,411 | D |
| Sociology | $55,851 | C |
| English Language and Literature | $35,793 | 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.
Accounting
Accounting (19 graduates) is McDaniel's strongest program: $65,941 year one, $93,347 at four years, B-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.367, median debt $24,210). Maryland's proximity to Baltimore and D.C. financial and government contracting sectors creates real placement pathways for accounting graduates. The four-year trajectory to $93,347 reflects senior accounting and CPA-track progression. The cohort of 19 is small, limiting statistical stability, but directional outcomes are strong.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (50 graduates) earns $59,048 year one and $78,830 at four years - B-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.423, median debt $25,000). The four-year figure reflects advancement into management, marketing, and operations roles in the Baltimore-D.C. corridor. This is the most volume-stable strong-outcome program at McDaniel. Students with business career intentions have a functional path from this campus.
Psychology
Psychology (50 graduates) reaches $60,264 at four years - B-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.426, median debt $25,662). Scorecard does not report year-one earnings for this cohort. The four-year figure may reflect a concentration of graduates who entered graduate programs and are reporting higher post-training earnings. Absent year-one data, the interpretation requires caution. Students should probe career placement directly with the college.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology (40 graduates) earns $38,122 year one and $50,185 at four years - C-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.674, median debt $25,697). These outcomes reflect typical physical fitness, coaching, and personal training roles plus students pursuing graduate health programs. The moderate debt-to-earnings ratio is sustainable on a cash-flow basis but reflects meaningful financial pressure relative to the $21,916 net price. Graduate education in physical therapy or occupational therapy adds cost that Scorecard data does not capture.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 79.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 85.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 88.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How McDaniel College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
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 | 77.9% |
| Enrollment | 1,617 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 36.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,473 |
At 77.9%, McDaniel is broadly accessible. Scorecard does not report test score ranges, limiting benchmark guidance. The 63.3% completion rate is adequate but means roughly one-third of enrolled students do not earn a degree. Students should consider whether the small campus environment and Westminster location align with their career plans and what completion support the college offers.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDaniel College (this school) | 61 | $21,916 | $60,663 |
| Capitol Technology University | 79 | $22,102 | $85,035 |
| Willamette University | 59 | $25,121 | $56,911 |
| University of Evansville | 58 | $18,499 | $53,770 |
| St. Francis College | 57 | $18,129 | $58,099 |
| Washington Adventist University | 55 | $18,526 | $64,249 |
Who Thrives Here
McDaniel admits 77.9% of applicants. Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT ranges. Enrollment of 1,617 is small. Pell rate of 36.1% reflects significant financial need representation. The small campus creates close faculty relationships and a tight community - the primary value proposition for many students. Students attracted to the small liberal arts experience, close faculty mentorship, and proximity to Baltimore and Washington D.C. have a path to solid outcomes in business and accounting. Students in arts, social sciences, or general liberal arts face a less favorable financial case at the $21,916 net price.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
McDaniel College is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $21,916 a year after aid ($87,664 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $60,663 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $36,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
McDaniel College: Common Questions
Is McDaniel College worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether McDaniel College is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 61/100 on our ROI scale. At $21,916 a year after aid ($87,664 over four years) against $60,663 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does McDaniel College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $21,916 a year, or roughly $87,664 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do McDaniel College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $60,663 ten years after enrolling, roughly $18,863 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off McDaniel College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.9 years for McDaniel College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do McDaniel College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $36,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at McDaniel College?
The six-year graduation rate is 63.3%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.