Transfer at scale
from Rockville, Maryland
You're deciding whether to start your undergraduate path at Montgomery College before completing a bachelor's degree elsewhere in Maryland. That decision involves real numbers: one of the highest transfer-out rates among Maryland community colleges, affordable in-district tuition, and what students actually earn a decade later.
~19,000 undergrads, 45% transfer out by year 8, median $50k 10-yr earnings, $10,415 median debt.
Montgomery College sends 45% of students to four-year schools — well above national norms
Montgomery College enrolls nearly 19,000 undergrads across its Rockville-area campuses, with 65% attending part-time. Its eight-year transfer-out rate of 45% stands well above the national community college average, making it a genuine feeder into Maryland's four-year system. Median earnings ten years out reach $50k, and median debt is $10,415 — modest for a school where in-district tuition is just $4,020. Top programs in Liberal Arts, Business, and Computer Science each produce hundreds of completions annually. The three-year loan default rate is 0%.
Montgomery College is a mid-sized community college based in Rockville, Maryland, enrolling nearly 19,000 undergraduates — though 65% attend part-time, meaning most students are managing work, family, or other commitments alongside coursework. That context matters when reading the numbers. The college's standout figure is its eight-year transfer-out rate: 45%, a result that places it meaningfully above the national community college average of 15–25%. Liberal Arts and Sciences leads completions at 695 per year, followed by Business/Commerce at 387 and Computer and Information Sciences at 291. A student eyeing a four-year degree has well-worn paths through any of those fields. Median earnings ten years out are $50k, and median debt at graduation is $10,415. In-district tuition is $4,020 and net price averages $8,027. For a Maryland student with a clear transfer plan, Montgomery College's combination of affordable cost and a 45% transfer-out rate is a compelling case.
What this CC teaches at scale
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other. | 695 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | 387 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 291 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 205 |
| Computer/Computer Systems Technology/Technician. | 157 |
| Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance. | 104 |
| Engineering, General. | 90 |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 89 |
| Biology/Biotechnology Technology/Technician. | 57 |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric. | 48 |
Source · IPEDS completions (all undergraduate credentials).
Where Maryland transfers tend to go
Reflects state-aggregated IPEDS transfer-in volume — CC-specific destinations are not publicly available from IPEDS or the College Scorecard.
Frequently asked
- Is Montgomery College a good place to start a bachelor's degree?
- The data makes a strong case. Montgomery College's eight-year transfer-out rate is 45%, which is well above the 15–25% range typical for community colleges nationally. In-district tuition is $4,020 and net price averages $8,027, so costs are manageable, particularly for students who live in Montgomery County. Median debt is $10,415 — reasonable given the two-year scope — and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. Median earnings ten years out reach $50k. The 65% part-time enrollment rate means many students extend their timeline, but the transfer signal is there for students who stay the course with a four-year target in mind.
- How does Montgomery College's transfer-out rate compare to typical community colleges?
- Montgomery College's eight-year transfer-out rate is 45%, compared to a national community college average that typically falls between 15% and 25%. That gap is substantial. The rate is measured over eight years, which accounts for the 65% part-time student population whose transfer timelines are longer than traditional full-time students. An additional 1.1% were still enrolled at the eight-year mark, and 22% had completed a credential at Montgomery College itself. The combination of a high transfer-out rate and a 0% loan default rate suggests this CC functions as an active pipeline into Maryland's four-year institutions, not simply an enrollment destination.
- What programs does Montgomery College offer at meaningful scale?
- Montgomery College's largest programs by annual completions are Liberal Arts and Sciences (695), Business/Commerce (387), Computer and Information Sciences (291), Liberal Studies (205), and Computer Systems Technology (157). Computer and Information Systems Security produced 104 completions, Engineering produced 90, and Registered Nursing produced 89. These volumes mean that in the college's core transfer-prep areas — liberal arts, business, and technology — course sections, advising infrastructure, and transfer pathways are genuinely developed. Students pursuing STEM paths will find Computer Science and Engineering both operating at meaningful scale, while business and liberal arts remain the highest-volume options.
Methodology — Transfer signals reflect IPEDS Outcome Measures 8-year cohorts; earnings and debt come from the College Scorecard. Destinations are state-aggregated; we do not claim CC-specific transfer destinations without authoritative per-student tracking data.