Hood College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Frederick, Maryland. It enrolls 1,194 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes45
Value52
Affordability54
Selectivity47
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 77.8%, Hood College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
77.8%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Hood College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
12.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Hood College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,873 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,873
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
37%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
68%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$47,700
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,200
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,442
Books & Supplies
$1,430
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,784
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,842
Total Cost of Attendance
$61,219
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,424
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,454
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,837
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,638
Over $110,000
$29,078
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$10,25025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,50075%percentile
$36,11290%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,000
↓ $5,000
No Pell $15,000
↓ $10,000
Dependent students $18,119
↓ $6,881
Independent students $18,750
↓ $6,250
Female students $18,500
↓ $6,500
Male students $17,750
↓ $7,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,842, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
64% of full-time students who enrolled at Hood College graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
64%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Hood College earn a median of $57,089 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$57,089
Earning > $25K
79%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$45,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$60,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$43,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$54,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,200, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
20.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Hood College is home to 1,194 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,194
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
31%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 49.6%592
Black 17.6%210
Hispanic 16.7%199
Other 5.8%69
Asian 3.2%38
International 1.5%18
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Hood College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityFrederick, Maryland
Housing
Mostly residential768 beds on campus
Adult Learners
6%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Hood College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
50 distinct programs across
21 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Hood College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$190M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$73,627
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
96 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
21
22%
$87,247
Associate Professors
32
33%
$74,107
Assistant Professors
42
44%
$66,872
Instructors
1
1%
$55,945
Pros & Cons of Hood College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Hood College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
High published cost of attendance before aid
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Hood College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hood College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Hood College.
Is Hood College hard to get into?
Hood College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 77.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at Hood College?
Hood College has an acceptance rate of 77.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Hood College cost?
The average net price after aid at Hood College is $20,873 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Hood College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $57,089 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,873 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Hood College known for?
Hood College is best known for its programs in Educational Administration, Business Administration, Mental Health Services. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Hood College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Hood College are $57,089, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Hood College accredited?
Yes. Hood College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Hood College?
Hood College enrolls 1,194 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Hood College?
Hood College graduates 64% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Hood College a public or private college?
Hood College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Hood College located?
Hood College is located in Frederick, Maryland.
What programs does Hood College offer?
Hood College offers 50 distinct programs. The most popular include Educational Administration, Business Administration, Mental Health Services.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Hood College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Hood College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Maryland
Other colleges in Maryland share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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