Cecil College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

Compare Cecil College in North East, MD with College of Southern Maryland in La Plata, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Southern Maryland is larger than Cecil College based on total student enrollment (5,062 students vs. 1,749 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cecil College is located in North East, MD (Rural Fringe setting); College of Southern Maryland is in La Plata, MD (Rural Fringe setting).
• Cecil 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: Cecil College 13:1; College of Southern Maryland 16:1.

Cecil College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cecil College 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 Cecil College ($8,006 vs. $10,128).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cecil College are 16.7% lower than at College of Southern Maryland ($13,766 vs. $16,530).
• Cecil College is 23.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSM (about $1,740 more per year; $9,090.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.8% higher at Cecil College than at College of Southern Maryland (about $780 more per year; $10,830.00 vs. $10,050.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cecil College than at College of Southern Maryland (77% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Southern Maryland students is 28.6% larger than aid received by Cecil College students ($6,123 vs. $4,761).

Cecil College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cecil College 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 Cecil College.

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

Cecil College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cecil College 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 $5,700 more per year than Cecil College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,400 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Southern Maryland graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Cecil College graduates ($9,000 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cecil College graduates ($93 vs. $108).
• More Cecil College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSM students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 42%)

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.