Towson University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Towson, Maryland. It enrolls 16,136 students (a very large 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.
Strong
77/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes73
Value79
Affordability61
Selectivity40
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 82%, Towson University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
82%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
950 – 1235
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 27
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Towson University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
6.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Towson University 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 $17,413 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,413
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
36%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
42%
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 (in-state)
$11,728
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$29,820
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,260
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,260
Books & Supplies
$960
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,782
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,782
Total Cost of Attendance
$28,535
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$6,962
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,590
$48,001 – $75,000
$16,784
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,720
Over $110,000
$26,396
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.
$3,75010%percentile
$7,28325%percentile
$18,718Medianpercentile
$23,99175%percentile
$29,75090%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 $16,000
↓ $2,718
No Pell $15,000
↓ $3,718
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $3,718
Independent students $17,283
↓ $1,435
Female students $15,821
↓ $2,897
Male students $14,750
↓ $3,968
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,500, less than completers ($18,718), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
69% of full-time students who enrolled at Towson University graduate within six years, and 83% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
69%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
83%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Towson University earn a median of $64,390 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$64,390
Earning > $25K
86%
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
$51,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$61,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$52,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$55,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$55,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,300, about 17% 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 ↑
10.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 84% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Towson University is home to 16,136 students, a sprawling student community.
Total Enrolled
16,136
Part-Time
11%
First-Generation
29%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 37.8%6,098
Black 35.7%5,757
Hispanic 11.5%1,856
Asian 6.7%1,075
Other 6.1%989
International 1.0%157
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Towson University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityTowson, Maryland
Housing
Partly residential5,000 beds available
Adult Learners
10%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Towson University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
102 distinct programs across
23 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 Towson University is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,770
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$100M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$85,607
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
932 instructional faculty across 5 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
262
28%
$109,624
Associate Professors
219
23%
$93,404
Assistant Professors
199
21%
$80,193
Instructors
7
1%
$71,807
Lecturers
245
26%
$55,134
Pros & Cons of Towson University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Towson University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
No clear weaknesses in the data.
Best for:
Based on the data, Towson University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Towson University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Towson University.
Is Towson University hard to get into?
Towson University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 82%.
What is the acceptance rate at Towson University?
Towson University has an acceptance rate of 82%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Towson University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Towson University scored between 950 and 1235 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Towson University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Towson University scored between 19 and 27 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Towson University cost?
The average net price after aid at Towson University is $17,413 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Towson University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $64,390 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,413 per year. That's roughly 3.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Towson University known for?
Towson University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Radio, Television & Digital Media. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Towson University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Towson University are $64,390, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Towson University accredited?
Yes. Towson University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Towson University?
Towson University enrolls 16,136 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Towson University?
Towson University graduates 69% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Towson University a public or private college?
Towson University is a Public institution.
Where is Towson University located?
Towson University is located in Towson, Maryland.
What programs does Towson University offer?
Towson University offers 102 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Radio, Television & Digital Media.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Towson University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Towson University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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