Stevenson University
Owings Mills, Maryland · Private Nonprofit · 78.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 60/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Stevenson University in Owings Mills, Maryland, scores 60 out of 100, landing in the Fair Value tier. The completion rate sub-score of 75 is the strongest signal here - 68.5% of entering students finish, well above most private regionals - and the 9.1-year payback period is genuinely fast. Tuition runs a steep $40,560 (uniform in-state and out-of-state at this Baltimore-area private), but institutional aid brings net price down to $26,505 - a 35% discount. Median earnings 10 years after entry hit $62,079, with $43,800 at year six showing strong career progression. Median debt is $26,000 and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.594 sits below the trouble threshold. The 220-graduate Registered Nursing program (B+ grade, $79,709 first-year earnings) is the strongest single asset and likely drives the headline ROI score upward. Outside nursing, accounting and business deliver C+/B grades, while psychology, design, and film fall into D/F territory. Stevenson is a defensible private regional choice for Maryland and DC-area students in healthcare and business tracks.
Stevenson University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $40,560/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $40,560/yr |
| Average net price | $26,505/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $106,020 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,079 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,102 |
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: $40,560/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $26,505/year, or roughly $106,020 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 $15,894/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $31,892/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $26,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $276 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $62,079 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.59, 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 | $15,894 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,935 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $26,937 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,277 |
| $110,001+ | $31,892 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-$30,000 pay $15,894 net price - a meaningful Pell-eligible discount on the $40,560 sticker. With $62,079 in 10-year median earnings and $26,000 in median debt, low-income students who complete the nursing or business programs come out clearly ahead. The aid model genuinely opens access for low-income Maryland students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $20,935, $48,001-$75,000 pays $26,937, and $75,001-$110,000 pays $29,277. The aid scales income-progressively without inversions. Middle-income Maryland families pay roughly $21,000-$29,000 per year - more than UMBC in-state but with smaller classes and pre-professional support that may justify the premium for nursing-bound students.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $31,892, the top bracket. Even at full freight after merit aid, this is below the $40,560 sticker and roughly equivalent to a Maryland out-of-state public flagship. High-income families are paying real money for a small-private experience that comes with a strong nursing program and 68% completion rate.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Stevenson University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $92,710 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $64,956 | C+ |
| Psychology | $57,285 | D |
| Biology | $56,451 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $61,348 | C |
| Teacher Education | $54,233 | C+ |
| Legal Support Services | $63,656 | C |
| Design and Applied Arts | $55,419 | D |
| Business/Corporate Communications | $60,109 | C |
| Accounting | $81,299 | B |
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
By far the dominant program with 220 graduates, this BSN earns a B+ grade. First-year earnings of $79,709 climb to $92,710 by year four against $27,000 median debt and a 0.339 debt-to-earnings ratio. Excellent ROI driven by the dense Baltimore-DC hospital network. Stevenson's nursing pipeline feeds Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland Medical Center, and MedStar with steady graduate flow. This single program is reason enough to consider Stevenson for nursing-bound students.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Seventy-seven graduates earn a C+ grade. First-year earnings of $52,442 climb to $64,956 by year four against $26,773 median debt and a 0.511 ratio. Solid mid-tier outcomes. Graduates likely place into Baltimore-area corporate, banking, and healthcare administration roles. Outcomes are competitive with Towson and UMBC business programs at slightly higher net price.
Psychology
Forty-seven graduates earn a D grade. First-year earnings of $28,182 climb sharply to $57,285 by year four - the four-year progression is notable - but $27,000 median debt against the early earnings produces a 0.958 ratio. Many graduates likely advance to graduate school in clinical or counseling psychology; the year-four earnings number may include some who have completed master's degrees. Without a graduate plan, the entry math is tough.
Biology
Forty-two graduates earn a D grade. First-year earnings of $32,983 climb to $56,451 by year four against $27,000 median debt and a 0.819 ratio. Biology nationally is a pre-health pipeline with low terminal-bachelor's earnings; the four-year number reflects graduates moving into research-tech, lab-coordinator, and nursing-school-bound paths. Pre-med students should be confident about admission to professional school before signing on.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Forty-one graduates earn a C grade. First-year earnings of $38,745 climb meaningfully to $61,348 by year four against $27,000 median debt and a 0.697 ratio. The strong four-year progression suggests graduates are landing into Baltimore-area federal law enforcement, ATF/FBI support, and Maryland state corrections leadership tracks where the four-year credential drives advancement.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.2% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 70.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 76.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Stevenson 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 | 78.9% |
| Enrollment | 3,102 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 30.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,822 |
Stevenson admits 78.9% of applicants, making it broadly accessible. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported in current Scorecard data, consistent with test-optional admissions. The 68.5% completion rate is meaningfully strong for an institution at this admit rate - Stevenson appears to retain students well through advising, small classes, and pre-professional structure. Prepared Maryland students with 3.2+ GPAs should expect strong fit and persistence support.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Stevenson's peer set is mid-Atlantic and Midwest private regionals. Capitol Technology University (also Maryland) is a comparable specialty-focused private with similar pricing. Washington Adventist University serves the DC metro at lower cost. Rider University in New Jersey is a similar-sized comprehensive private. Hope College (Michigan) and Point Loma Nazarene (California) round out the religious/private comparison set. Among Maryland privates, Stevenson's nursing program is the standout asset, and its completion rate runs above Loyola Maryland and McDaniel.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stevenson University (this school) | 60 | $26,505 | $62,079 |
| Capitol Technology University | 79 | $22,102 | $85,035 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | 62 | $38,729 | $63,998 |
| Rider University | 61 | $24,792 | $62,208 |
| Hope College | 57 | $27,182 | $58,427 |
| Washington Adventist University | 55 | $18,526 | $64,249 |
Who Thrives Here
Stevenson enrolls 3,102 students with a 30.9% Pell rate, drawing primarily from Baltimore, DC, and the broader mid-Atlantic. The fit is clearest for nursing (220 graduates - by far the largest program), accounting, business, and pre-professional tracks. Maryland residents who qualify for the Maryland Senatorial Scholarship and other state aid can find this competitive against UMBC or Towson on net price. Out-of-state students and those in arts/humanities tracks should weigh the $26,500 net price carefully against state alternatives.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Stevenson University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $26,505 a year after aid ($106,020 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $62,079 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.1 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: its 68.5% graduation rate.
Median debt of $26,000 against $62,079 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.