University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Princess Anne, Maryland · Public · 96.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 28/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), an HBCU in Princess Anne, MD, posts an ROI score of 28 - Below Benchmark tier. The institution serves 2,391 students and offers in-state tuition of $9,076 (a notable strength) against out-of-state of $20,122; net price is $13,338 with a $53,352 four-year all-in. Six-year average earnings are just $29,100, but rise meaningfully to a median $47,697 by year ten, suggesting many graduates need years to translate the credential into earnings. The 15.2-year payback period is long. The most damaging inputs are completion rate (35.3%) and three-year repayment rate (35.6%). The 0.928 debt-to-earnings ratio (median debt $27,000) reflects how thin early-career earnings are relative to typical borrowing. UMES is a 1890 land-grant HBCU with strong programs in pharmacy, hospitality, aviation, and engineering - the program-level data shows engineering and accounting outcomes are strong, while liberal-arts and applied-science majors face significant debt-to-earnings pressure. Like many HBCUs, the institutional ROI metric understates value because of structural earnings gaps not driven by the school itself.
How University of Maryland Eastern Shore scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score28/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate35.3% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
- Payback period15.2 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,076/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,122/yr |
| Average net price | $13,338/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $53,352 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,697 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $29,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 15.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 35.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,391 |
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: $9,076/year ($20,122/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $13,338/year, or roughly $53,352 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 $9,914/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,757/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($29,100) and comes to 0.93, 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 | $9,914 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,858 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,910 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,847 |
| $110,001+ | $20,757 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-$30,000 face a net price of $9,914 - meaningful aid leverage that brings cost close to in-state tuition. With Pell rate above 55%, this is the dominant income segment at UMES. The four-year cost of about $40,000 against $29,100 six-year earnings is workable for completers, particularly in stronger pre-professional programs. The bigger risk is the 35% completion rate - borrowing without graduating is the worst-case outcome.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $11,858 and $48,001-$75,000 pays $13,910. Maryland middle-income families benefit substantially from UMES's land-grant status.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $17,847 and $110,001-plus pays $20,757. Higher-income in-state families lose the aid advantage and face essentially full in-state tuition plus housing. The HBCU mission and community are genuine value drivers.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Maryland Eastern Shore with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $58,580 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $52,398 | D |
| Hospitality Administration | $52,883 | D |
| Sociology | $46,314 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $43,603 | D |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $89,918 | D |
| Psychology | $27,716 | F |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $45,876 | - |
| Air Transportation | $62,080 | D |
| Engineering, General | $73,839 | A |
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.
Engineering, General
Engineering, General is UMES's standout program with 11 graduates and first-year median earnings of $73,839 against just $18,166 median debt - a 0.246 debt-to-earnings ratio earning an A grade. The program is small but produces graduates who land high-earning roles at federal contractors and in regional engineering firms. This is a clear example of the institution's value proposition working at the program level, especially for in-state students paying $9,076 tuition.
Biology
Biology graduates 44 students - the largest reported cohort. First-year earnings of $37,244 climb to $58,580 by year four, with median debt of $27,000 producing a 0.725 ratio and D grade. Biology at UMES often serves as a pre-health pipeline, with graduates pursuing medical, pharmacy, or PA school. The bachelor's-only earnings figure understates the longer-run value for students who continue to graduate or professional programs.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 23 students with first-year earnings of $37,393 climbing to $52,398 by year four. Median debt of $28,027 produces a 0.75 ratio and D grade. The 4-year out earnings figure suggests graduates advance into supervisory and federal-track roles. Career outcomes are reasonable for the field; the D grade reflects the high debt level relative to entry-level wages typical in the discipline.
Hospitality Administration
Hospitality Administration graduates 22 students - a notable program for UMES given the Eastern Shore's tourism economy. First-year earnings of $36,472 climb to $52,883 by year four, with $26,000 median debt producing a 0.713 ratio and D grade. Hospitality is a real career-track program at UMES with strong industry connections; outcomes improve significantly for graduates who advance into management roles in 5-7 years.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates 19 students with $30,407 first-year earnings and $43,603 four-year out. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.888 ratio and D grade. Students should plan for graduate study and weigh cumulative debt accordingly.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 31.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 35.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 31.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 40.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Maryland Eastern Shore’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 | 96.4% |
| Enrollment | 2,391 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 55.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,872 |
UMES reports a 96.4% admission rate - effectively open admission, which aligns with its access-mission HBCU role. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported in current Scorecard data, consistent with the school's broad-access posture. The combination of near-open admission and a 35% completion rate signals that the institution admits many students who arrive without strong academic preparation, and the support structures are not closing the readiness gap for the majority.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore (this school) | 28 | $13,338 | $47,697 |
| University of Baltimore | 64 | $13,868 | $61,335 |
| Bowie State University | 40 | $19,298 | $54,537 |
| Missouri Southern State University | 30 | $12,007 | $42,620 |
| Missouri Western State University | 29 | $13,251 | $42,647 |
| Rogers State University | 28 | $15,314 | $43,166 |
Who Thrives Here
UMES enrolls 2,391 students with a Pell Grant rate of 55.7% - a majority Pell-eligible student body, reflecting the school's access mission to underserved Maryland populations. The fit case here is a Maryland resident accessing the $9,076 in-state tuition, planning to enter one of UMES's stronger pre-professional programs (engineering, accounting, pharmacy, aviation), and prepared to take advantage of academic support to beat the institutional 35% completion average. The HBCU community and small-school environment are real assets for students who fit; the financial outcome data should be a sober prompt to plan around debt carefully.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, University of Maryland Eastern Shore scores 28/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $13,338 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $47,697 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 15.2 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: its 35.3% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.93 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 35.6% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $29,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.93. 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.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore: Common Questions
Is University of Maryland Eastern Shore worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. University of Maryland Eastern Shore scores 28/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $13,338 a year after aid against $47,697 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 15.2 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does University of Maryland Eastern Shore 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 $13,338 a year, or roughly $53,352 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 University of Maryland Eastern Shore graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $47,697 ten years after enrolling, roughly $5,897 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 University of Maryland Eastern Shore?
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 15.2 years for University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Maryland Eastern Shore graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $29,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.93. 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 University of Maryland Eastern Shore?
The six-year graduation rate is 35.3%. 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.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.