State 50 Colleges 30 Public 18 Community

Colleges in Maryland

Ranked, compared, and filtered by real data: costs, outcomes, and admissions

About Maryland

The University of Maryland sits close enough to Washington DC that students in policy, international studies, and cybersecurity are essentially inside their professional environment from day one.

Johns Hopkins has built one of the world's most recognized medical and public health institutions in Baltimore. Its Bloomberg School of Public Health is the largest public health school in the country, and Morgan State serves as the state's flagship HBCU with growing programs in engineering and the sciences.

Maryland

By Ownership

Public 30
Nonprofit 17
For-Profit 3

By Type

4-Year 32
2-Year 18

Why Study in Maryland?

PROS
  • Government career access Maryland's proximity to Washington DC gives students access to government and policy careers unavailable elsewhere.
  • Promise Scholarship Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship covers tuition for qualifying residents at two-year institutions.
  • Johns Hopkins globally recognized Johns Hopkins carries global recognition in medicine, public health, and biomedical engineering.
  • Highly educated communities Montgomery and Howard County rank among the most educated and highest-income communities in the country.
CONS
  • Rising housing costs Cost of living in the DC-Baltimore corridor has risen significantly, and housing near flagship campuses is increasingly expensive.
  • Traffic is a daily burden Traffic infrastructure around College Park is among the most difficult in the region, adding real cost to daily student life.
  • Narrow career pathways for non-gov fields Career pathways in government and defense are strong, but students in other fields may find the market less accessible.

How Maryland Compares

See how Maryland's colleges compare to the national average on the four measures most students and families weigh when deciding where to go: cost, acceptance rates, graduate earnings, and graduation rates.

Avg Net Price / yr $16,837 ↓ $984 below national National avg: $17,821/yr
Avg Acceptance Rate 69.7% ↓ 2.8% below national National avg: 72.5%
Median Earnings (10yr) $54,785 ↑ $6,596 above national National avg: $48,189
Avg Graduation Rate 43.8% ↓ 2.0% below national National avg: 45.8%

Acceptance Rate Trend (2019–2023) Rising  ↑ 3.2 pts since 2019

Top Colleges in Maryland

The colleges in Maryland that rank highest by UCD Score, and those that deliver above-national graduate earnings at a below-average net price, two of the strongest signals when choosing a school.

Highest UCD Score


Best Value Colleges

Best Colleges by Goal

Not every student is looking for the same thing. These six panels rank Maryland's colleges by the data that matters most for each path.

Nursing & Health

Ranked by annual graduates

  1. 1 $87,555
  2. 2 $88,174
  3. 3 $82,860

Engineering

Ranked by annual graduates

  1. 1 $82,860
  2. 2 $87,555
  3. 3

Business

Ranked by annual graduates

  1. 1 $65,287
  2. 2 $82,860
  3. 3 $87,555

Most Affordable

Ranked by net price

  1. 1 $2,725
  2. 2 $5,106
  3. 3 $6,835

Community Colleges

Ranked by enrollment

  1. 1 $9,844
  2. 2 $8,027
  3. 3 $14,915

Highest Earnings

Ranked by grad earnings

  1. 1 $88,174
  2. 2 $87,555
  3. 3 $85,035

Career Outcomes & ROI

Which colleges give you the most for what you spend? These eight schools rank highest in Maryland by the ratio of 10-year graduate earnings to annual net price.

# College Net Price / yr Earnings (10yr) Ratio Rating
1 Carroll Community College Westminster $2,725 $44,349 16.3× Excellent
2 Chesapeake College Wye Mills $5,106 $36,301 7.1× Excellent
3 Montgomery College Rockville $8,027 $50,159 6.3× Excellent
4 Hagerstown Community College Hagerstown $6,835 $41,615 6.1× Excellent
5 Prince George's Community College Largo $8,672 $47,548 5.5× Excellent
6 University of Maryland-College Park College Park $15,678 $82,860 5.3× Excellent
7 Frederick Community College Frederick $9,465 $46,449 4.9× Excellent
8 Ner Israel Rabbinical College Pikesville $13,572 $66,330 4.9× Excellent

ROI Ratio = median earnings 10 years after enrollment ÷ annual net price. Higher is better.

Popular Majors in Maryland

The six fields of study with the most annual graduates across all colleges in Maryland, based on IPEDS completion data.

BUSINESS +4.7% Avg Growth · BLS

Business

3,021 Colleges 22 Specializations
HEALTH +9.0% Avg Growth · BLS

Health

3,924 Colleges 26 Specializations
STEM +10.0% Avg Growth · BLS

Computer Science

2,632 Colleges 11 Specializations
HUMANITIES +1.8% Avg Growth · BLS

Liberal Arts

2,214 Colleges 1 Specializations

Top Programs in Maryland

The specific degree programs producing the most graduates across Maryland's colleges. A more granular view than the Popular Majors above, useful when you already know roughly what you want to study and want to see where the volume is.

Program Colleges Grads/yr Earnings · 4yr
Liberal Arts 31.0 8,722.0 $53,072
Business Administration 39.0 6,272.0 $68,257
Nursing 28.0 4,038.0 $88,910
Information Science 18.0 3,991.0 $85,294
Psychology 22.0 2,665.0 $50,706
Information Systems 31.0 2,354.0 $92,374
IT Administration 23.0 2,169.0 $85,063
Biology 23.0 2,030.0 $57,214

Top Careers in Maryland

Careers with a strong employment footprint in Maryland. What graduates from local colleges actually go on to do. State-level employment is shown where the BLS publishes it; national wage + growth shown alongside.

Dermatologists Doctoral or professional degree · 250.0 jobs in MD
$328,730 ↗ 6.4% growth
General Internal Medicine Physicians Doctoral or professional degree · 4,130.0 jobs in MD
$256,560 ↗ 3.3% growth
Physicist Doctoral or professional degree · 1,420.0 jobs in MD
$163,950 ↗ 4.0% growth
Computer & Information Research Scientist Master's degree · 2,750.0 jobs in MD
$141,540 ↗ 19.7% growth
Advertising and Promotions Managers Bachelor's degree · 530.0 jobs in MD
$127,540 ↘ -2.2% growth
Economist Master's degree · 920.0 jobs in MD
$137,610 ↗ 1.2% growth
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers High school diploma or equivalent · 1,200.0 jobs in MD
$119,200 ↗ 5.0% growth
Statisticians Master's degree · 3,070.0 jobs in MD
$128,940 ↗ 8.5% growth

Colleges by City in Maryland

The cities in Maryland with the most colleges, ranked by number of institutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many colleges are in Maryland?
Maryland has 50 accredited colleges and universities: 30 public, 17 private nonprofit, 3 for-profit. Of those, 18 are two-year community or technical colleges.
What does it actually cost to go to college in Maryland?
The average net price across Maryland colleges is $16,837 per year. That's what students pay after grants and scholarships, not the sticker tuition. That's $984 below the national average of $17,821, relatively affordable compared to most states. This figure blends public and private schools together; public in-state tuition usually runs lower, while private college costs swing widely based on each school's aid policy.
How hard is it to get into college in Maryland?
The average acceptance rate across Maryland colleges is 69.7%. It's close to the national average of 72.5%. That's a blended average. Open-enrollment community colleges accept all applicants, while flagship universities and selective private schools admit far fewer. Difficulty varies more by program than by state.
How much do Maryland college graduates earn?
Ten years after first enrolling, the typical graduate from a Maryland college earns $54,785 per year. That's $6,596 above the national median of $48,189, a strong outcome relative to most states. Earnings split sharply by field. Healthcare, engineering, and technology programs sit well above this median, while graduates in education, social work, and the arts often land below it.
Is going to college in Maryland worth it financially?
Looking at net price versus 10-year graduate earnings, Maryland colleges produce a solid return, with graduates earning roughly3.3× the annual cost of attendance within a decade. Graduates on average recoup the annual net price more than twice over in yearly earnings. The Career Outcomes section above ranks individual schools; the spread between the best and worst-value colleges in Maryland is wide enough that school choice matters more than the state average.
Does Maryland have community colleges?
Yes. Maryland has 18 two-year colleges, including community colleges, technical institutes, and workforce training schools. These institutions carry the lowest net prices in the state and serve students pursuing associate degrees, transfer credits toward a four-year degree, or workforce credentials in fields like healthcare, IT, and the trades. Starting at a community college and transferring is a common and cost-effective path in Maryland.
What percentage of students graduate from Maryland colleges?
On average, 43.8% of students who enroll at Maryland colleges finish their degree within six years. That's close to the national average of 45.8%. This varies considerably by institution. Selective four-year universities graduate a much higher share than open-enrollment schools, where part-time enrollment and work commitments affect completion timelines. Always look at a specific school's six-year rate, not the state average.
Where are the best nursing programs in Maryland?
Ranked by annual nursing and health program graduates, the top nursing schools in Maryland are Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland Baltimore and University of Maryland-College Park. These rankings use IPEDS completions data for CIP 51 (health professions), schools that produce the largest number of graduates per year. Availability varies by credential level; confirm whether a school offers BSN, ADN, or graduate nursing tracks before applying.
What is the cheapest college in Maryland?
Carroll Community College is the most affordable college in Maryland by net price at $2,725 per year. Net price is what students pay after grants and scholarships. The actual cost for lower-income students can be significantly less. Community colleges and public schools dominate the low-cost end, though some private colleges with strong aid programs compete on net price despite higher sticker tuitions.
What are the most popular majors at colleges in Maryland?
The most-completed fields of study across Maryland colleges are Business, Health, Computer Science and Liberal Arts, based on IPEDS degree completion records. High completion numbers reflect both student demand and how many schools offer the program. Larger public universities drive a lot of the volume. If you're choosing a major based on earnings potential, look at the career outcomes for each field rather than how many students study it.

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