AACC vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

Compare Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, MD with College of Southern Maryland in La Plata, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Anne Arundel Community College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (11,481 students vs. 5,062 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Anne Arundel Community College is located in Arnold, MD (Large Suburban setting); College of Southern Maryland is in La Plata, MD (Rural Fringe setting).
• Anne Arundel Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of Southern Maryland is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Anne Arundel Community College 17:1; College of Southern Maryland 16:1.

AACC vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AACC or CSM? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Southern Maryland than AACC ($8,006 vs. $14,961).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anne Arundel Community College are 39.3% lower than at College of Southern Maryland ($10,030 vs. $16,530).
• Anne Arundel Community College is 13.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSM (about $1,004 more per year; $8,354.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.6% higher at AACC than at College of Southern Maryland (about $1,472 more per year; $11,522.00 vs. $10,050.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Southern Maryland than at Anne Arundel Community College (54% vs. 44%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Southern Maryland students is 19.8% larger than aid received by Anne Arundel Community College students ($6,123 vs. $5,113).

AACC vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AACC or CSM? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CSM and AACC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AACC - Open admission; CSM - Open admission.

AACC vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AACC and CSM? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from College of Southern Maryland earn a median of about $200 more per year than AACC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,400 vs. $41,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Southern Maryland graduates have a $775 lower median loan debt than AACC graduates ($9,000 vs. $9,775).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AACC graduates ($93 vs. $101).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AACC students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 39%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.