Career Training Path › Maryland › College of Southern Maryland
College of Southern Maryland
La Plata, Maryland · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 8730 Mitchell Rd, La Plata, MD 20646 · Phone: (301) 934-2251 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
College of Southern Maryland is a public trade school in La Plata, MD offering EMT & paramedic training, medical billing & coding, and LPN programs, accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, College of Southern Maryland has a 33.0% completion rate, below the state average of 46.9%, with median graduate debt of $8,500 and median earnings of $44,435 ten years after entry.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for College of Southern Maryland; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid can be used here, and about 25.9% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency medical technicians | $39,960 | $48,100 | $61,460 |
| Medical records specialists | $35,400 | $54,220 | $65,770 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $60,720 | $74,660 | $79,670 |
| Medical assistants | $36,930 | $46,410 | $49,110 |
| Construction laborers | $36,430 | $46,960 | $55,540 |
| Pharmacy technicians | $36,180 | $45,120 | $50,120 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Maryland (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
College of Southern Maryland is a public trade and career training campus located in La Plata, MD. The school is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, along with program-specific accreditors including the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, and the Maryland Board of Nursing. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used at this school. Among its trade offerings, the campus awards the most credentials in EMT & paramedic training (21), medical billing & coding programs (17), and LPN / LVN programs (13), out of 8 total program families tracked.
According to federal data, the campus completion rate is 33.0%, which is below the state average of 46.9%. Median debt for graduates is $8,500, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $44,435. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 25.9% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a portion of the student body qualifies for need-based federal aid.
This campus, situated in a fringe rural locale with an undergraduate enrollment of 4,512, may suit students seeking shorter career-focused programs such as EMT training or medical billing certificates rather than longer degree tracks, though program length details are not reported here. Career changers considering enrollment should verify current accreditation status and outcome data directly through the College Scorecard or by contacting the school, since figures such as cost of attendance are not reported for this campus in federal data.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
College of Southern Maryland offers 8 trade program families, with the most credentials awarded in EMT & paramedic training (21), medical billing & coding programs (17), and LPN / LVN programs (13).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, with additional program-level accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, and the Maryland Board of Nursing.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used here.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 33.0%, which is below the Maryland state average of 46.9%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt for graduates is $8,500, per federal Scorecard data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are $44,435, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (301) 934-2251 or visit its website for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public school, which typically means state-subsidized tuition rates and eligibility for federal financial aid programs.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length details are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation and outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at the school's dedicated page, or by contacting the school directly.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
Fit for career changers is not explicitly reported in federal data, but the presence of short, credential-focused programs like EMT training and medical billing suggests options beyond traditional degree tracks; confirm scheduling and format with the school.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Specific licensing requirements are not reported in this data; contact the school or relevant state licensing board (such as the Maryland Board of Nursing for LPN programs) for details.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach College of Southern Maryland at (301) 934-2251 or through its website, https://www.csmd.edu/.
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See all trade and career schools in Maryland or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.