Best Colleges in Maryland

We ranked the best colleges in Maryland. Compare schools and find the best program for you.

Updated September 24, 2024

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Maryland has the third-highest college attainment rate in the United States, with 40% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree. Those who enter this educated workforce can find lucrative opportunities: In 2019, Maryland’s median household income was $82,910, significantly higher than the national median income of $68,700. The state also had the nation’s second-lowest poverty rate in 2019.

Maryland’s top industries include innovative STEM fields like biohealth sciences, aerospace engineering, cybersecurity, and sustainable energy. Cities like Baltimore and Washington, D.C. offer ample options for students and graduates pursuing internships, networking opportunities, and employment.

With an educated population, prosperous industries, and a variety of accredited colleges and universities, Maryland is a great choice for prospective students. Browse our list of the best colleges in Maryland to find the best fit for your academic and professional goals.

In this Article

10 Best Accredited Colleges in Maryland

We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools. from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.

How We Rank Schools

To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.

To qualify for our rankings lists, each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution. Each eligible school was then ranked based on a formula measuring:

Affordability (30%)
Student outcomes (30%)
Reputation (20%)
Diversity and social mobility (20%)

In addition, we only included colleges with graduation rates in the top third of all online colleges.

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD4 yearCampus + Online

$60,480

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$60,480

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

Acceptance Rate

62%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$60,480

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$60,480

Retention Rate

97%

Students Enrolled

31,275

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$60,480

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$60,480

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$60,480

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$60,480

Acceptance Rate

Online Enrollment

62%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$60,480

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$60,480

Retention Rate

97%

Students Enrolled

31,275

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD4 yearCampus + Online

$9,695

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$36,683

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

44%

Acceptance Rate

27%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$16,238

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$35,388

Retention Rate

95%

Students Enrolled

40,792

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,695

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,683

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,695

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,683

Acceptance Rate

44%

Online Enrollment

27%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$16,238

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$35,388

Retention Rate

95%

Students Enrolled

40,792

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

University of Maryland-Baltimore County

Baltimore, MD4 yearCampus + Online

$9,056

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$25,820

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

81%

Acceptance Rate

68%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,582

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,618

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

13,991

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,056

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,820

University of Maryland-Baltimore County

Baltimore, MD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,056

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,820

Acceptance Rate

81%

Online Enrollment

68%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,582

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,618

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

13,991

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Towson University

Towson, MD4 yearCampus + Online

$7,238

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$23,240

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

79%

Acceptance Rate

40%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,676

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,964

Retention Rate

82%

Students Enrolled

19,793

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,238

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,240

Towson University

Towson, MD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,238

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,240

Acceptance Rate

79%

Online Enrollment

40%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,676

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,964

Retention Rate

82%

Students Enrolled

19,793

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Salisbury University

Salisbury, MD4 yearCampus + Online

$7,556

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$18,032

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

91%

Acceptance Rate

35%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,842

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,690

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

7,123

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,556

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,032

Salisbury University

Salisbury, MD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,556

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,032

Acceptance Rate

91%

Online Enrollment

35%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,842

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,690

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

7,123

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Washington College

Chestertown, MD4 yearCampus

$50,626

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$50,626

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

75%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

83%

Students Enrolled

955

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$50,626

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$50,626

Washington College

Chestertown, MD4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$50,626

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$50,626

Acceptance Rate

75%

Online Enrollment

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

83%

Students Enrolled

955

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

St. Mary's College of Maryland

St. Mary's City, MD4 yearCampus

$12,116

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$28,192

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

77%

Acceptance Rate

11%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$16,530

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,530

Retention Rate

82%

Students Enrolled

1,536

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,116

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,192

St. Mary's College of Maryland

St. Mary's City, MD4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,116

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,192

Acceptance Rate

77%

Online Enrollment

11%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$16,530

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,530

Retention Rate

82%

Students Enrolled

1,536

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Bowie State University

Bowie, MD4 yearCampus + Online

$5,875

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$16,666

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

87%

Acceptance Rate

67%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,598

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,611

Retention Rate

73%

Students Enrolled

6,275

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,875

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,666

Bowie State University

Bowie, MD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,875

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,666

Acceptance Rate

87%

Online Enrollment

67%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,598

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,611

Retention Rate

73%

Students Enrolled

6,275

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Loyola University Maryland

Baltimore, MD4 yearCampus + Online

$53,430

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$53,430

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

83%

Acceptance Rate

31%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,900

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,900

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

5,238

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$53,430

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$53,430

Loyola University Maryland

Baltimore, MD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$53,430

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$53,430

Acceptance Rate

83%

Online Enrollment

31%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,900

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,900

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

5,238

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#10

Frostburg State University

Frostburg, MD4 yearCampus + Online

$6,974

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$21,854

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

88%

Acceptance Rate

67%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,208

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,584

Retention Rate

72%

Students Enrolled

4,067

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,974

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,854

Frostburg State University

Frostburg, MD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,974

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,854

Acceptance Rate

88%

Online Enrollment

67%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,208

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,584

Retention Rate

72%

Students Enrolled

4,067

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

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