Best Colleges in Maryland

Johns Hopkins University ranked first and University of Maryland, College Park ranked second for the best colleges in Maryland. Although the state is relatively small, it is home to several special-interest colleges – including one of the oldest art schools in the country! Maryland's stunning coastline offers students opportunities to go boating, fishing, camping, hiking, and enjoy delicious seafood.
 

Studying in Maryland

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Best Colleges in Maryland

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20 of 21

#1 in Maryland | #25 in National Universities

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland

Economic score 1.38

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $20,820

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $87,555

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 94%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#2 in Maryland | #33 in National Universities
Economic score 1.48

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,590

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $82,860

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 85%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#3 in Maryland | #13 in Liberal Arts

Washington College

Chestertown, Maryland

Economic score 1.88

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,606

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $65,518

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#4 in Maryland

Loyola University Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland

Economic score 2.44

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $31,503

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $82,652

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 81%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#5 in Maryland

Towson University

Towson, Maryland

Economic score 2.63

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $14,151

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $64,390

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 75%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#6 in Maryland | #130 in National Universities
Economic score 2.96

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $19,319

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $69,960

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 71%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#7 in Maryland
Economic score 3.66

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $22,211

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $65,344

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 56%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#8 in Maryland

University of Baltimore

Baltimore, Maryland

Economic score 3.75

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,593

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $61,335

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 59%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#9 in Maryland

Mount St. Mary's University

Emmitsburg, Maryland

Economic score 3.81

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $22,614

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $64,072

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 65%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#10 in Maryland

Salisbury University

Salisbury, Maryland

Economic score 3.85

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,212

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $61,515

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 71%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#11 in Maryland | #67 in Liberal Arts

St. Mary's College of Maryland

St. Mary's City, Maryland

Economic score 4.13

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,736

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $60,110

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 73%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#12 in Maryland

McDaniel College

Westminster, Maryland

Economic score 4.47

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $22,106

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $60,663

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 66%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#13 in Maryland

Bowie State University

Bowie, Maryland

Economic score 5.06

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $15,213

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $54,537

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 51%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#14 in Maryland

Stevenson University

Owings Mills, Maryland

Economic score 5.19

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $25,963

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $62,079

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 64%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#15 in Maryland

Hood College

Frederick, Maryland

Economic score 5.20

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,777

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $57,089

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 63%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#16 in Maryland

Frostburg State University

Frostburg, Maryland

Economic score 5.34

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,581

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $55,493

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 59%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#17 in Maryland | #344 in National Universities

Morgan State University

Baltimore, Maryland

Economic score 6.83

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $13,669

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $50,698

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 54%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#18 in Maryland | #141 in Liberal Arts

Goucher College

Baltimore, Maryland

Economic score 9.11

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $27,204

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $53,023

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 68%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#19 in Maryland
Economic score 25.46

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $39,073

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $45,212

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 74%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

Coppin State University

Baltimore, Maryland

Economic score 6.19

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $7,865

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $46,490

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 44%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

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Average income based on education level

The following figures are the average salaries in Florida for each level of education.

Average Income

The average income of people in this state with a high-school diploma, certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree, 10 years after enrollment, based on 2021-2022 CSC data.

HS Diploma $40,888
Certificate $75,978
Associate N/A
Bachelor $61,998
Master $72,593

Cost of attending college in Maryland

In-state-tuition $25,180

The average in-state tuition, before financial aid, of all 4-year institutions in the state. Includes public, private, online, on-campus, non-profit, and for-profit institutions. Based on 2021-2022 CSC data.

Out-of-state-tuition $30,482

The average tuition for out-of-state students, before financial aid of all 4-year institutions in the state. Includes public, private, online, on-campus, non-profit, and for-profit institutions. Based on 2021-2022 CSC data.

Most popular degrees in Maryland

In Maryland the most popular degrees are Business Administration, Computer Systems Analysis, and General Psychology. To create this list, we complied and analyzed data from IPEDS and College Scorecard. 

They both provide information on how many graduates each program has annually. The list below is both undergraduate- and graduate-level programs. 

Fastest growing careers

Maryland job growth 10%

Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
49.2%
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
40.7%
Information Security Analysts
36.7%
Nurse Practitioners
36.3%
Occupational Therapy Assistants
33%
Epidemiologists
32.3%
Physical Therapist Assistants
31.6%
Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare Center/Program
29.8%
Massage Therapists
27.6%
Medical and Health Services Managers
27.3%

Best bachelor’s degrees in Maryland

These majors are most likely to pay off economically after graduation.

Best colleges for social mobility in Maryland

Higher education is supposed to act as an economic elevator that lifts students from low-income households into the middle class. But not all colleges do this: unfortunately, many of the nation’s most “prestigious” schools accept very few students from low-income backgrounds. 

To determine what colleges are doing the best job at lifting students out of poverty, we have devised a Social Mobility Index (SMI).  

The best colleges for social mobility in Maryland are shown below. 

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