CSM vs. Garrett College

Comparable Facts

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

College of Southern Maryland is larger than Garrett College based on total student enrollment (5,062 students vs. 679 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Southern Maryland is located in La Plata, MD (Rural Fringe setting); Garrett College is in McHenry, MD (Distant Rural setting).
• College of Southern Maryland is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Garrett College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Southern Maryland 16:1; Garrett College 15:1.

CSM vs. Garrett College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSM or Garrett College? 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 Garrett College ($8,006 vs. $8,507).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Garrett College are 49.3% lower than at College of Southern Maryland ($8,384 vs. $16,530).
• Garrett College is 31% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSM (about $2,282 more per year; $9,632.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.8% higher at Garrett College than at College of Southern Maryland (about $1,990 more per year; $12,040.00 vs. $10,050.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Garrett College than at College of Southern Maryland (73% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Southern Maryland students is 10% larger than aid received by Garrett College students ($6,123 vs. $5,565).

CSM vs. Garrett College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSM or Garrett College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Garrett College and CSM.

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

CSM vs. Garrett College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSM and Garrett College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from College of Southern Maryland earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than Garrett College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,400 vs. $33,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Southern Maryland graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than Garrett College graduates ($9,000 vs. $11,750).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Garrett College graduates ($93 vs. $121).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Garrett College students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 34%)

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.