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. 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 |
| Average 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, which covers tuition and fees only. 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.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,000, which works out to about $276 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($43,800) and comes to 0.59, 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 | $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.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $31,892, the top bracket. 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. 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. Graduates likely place into Baltimore-area corporate, banking, and healthcare administration roles.
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 | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 70.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 76.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Stevenson University’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 | 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.
| 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.
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. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 68.5% graduation rate.
Median debt of $26,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $43,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Stevenson University: Common Questions
Is Stevenson University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Stevenson University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 60/100 on our ROI scale. At $26,505 a year after aid ($106,020 over four years) against $62,079 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Stevenson University 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 $26,505 a year, or roughly $106,020 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 Stevenson University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $62,079 ten years after enrolling, roughly $20,279 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 Stevenson University?
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 9.1 years for Stevenson University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Stevenson University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,000, against average earnings of $43,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Stevenson University?
The six-year graduation rate is 68.5%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.