2027 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in Maryland

[General Business/Commerce](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/general-business-commerce/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general business/commerce education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find the best return on investment for general business/commerce students.
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2027 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in Maryland
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general business/commerce degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools
Leading the list is Carroll Community College, our #1 best value for general business/commerce in Maryland. Carroll Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Westminster. Students from in state pay about $4,308 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,158. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $17,398 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Carroll Community College generally make around $49,058. That is a strong return on a $17,398 median debt.
Hagerstown Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Set in the suburb of Hagerstown, Hagerstown Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,320, while out-of-state students pay about $8,190. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $12,750 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $41,970. That is a strong return on a $12,750 median debt.
Prince Georges Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general business/commerce, landing the #3 spot this year. Prince Georges Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Largo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,034, compared with $8,762 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $11,837. General Business/commerce graduates of Prince Georges Community College earn a median of $56,960 early in their careers. Set against $11,837 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Montgomery College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Set in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,394, with out-of-state students paying around $14,250. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $9,250 in student loans. General Business/commerce graduates of Montgomery College earn a median of $29,449 early in their careers. Set against $9,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Chesapeake College earned it the #5 place for general business/commerce. Located in the rural area of Wye Mills, Chesapeake College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,274, with out-of-state students paying around $8,768. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $8,380. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Chesapeake College generally make around $52,395. That is a strong return on a $8,380 median debt.
College Of Southern Maryland came in at #6 for value in general business/commerce this year. College Of Southern Maryland is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of La Plata. In-state tuition and fees average $4,200, while out-of-state students pay about $9,450. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $5,500. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $51,719. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Allegany College Of Maryland ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Set in the town of Cumberland, Allegany College Of Maryland is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,940 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $18,823. General Business/commerce graduates of Allegany College Of Maryland earn a median of $42,542 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harford Community College placed #8 among the best values for general business/commerce. Located in the rural area of Bel Air, Harford Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,032 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,832 for out-of-state students. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans. General Business/commerce graduates of Harford Community College earn a median of $50,636 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Garrett College earned the #9 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the rural area of McHenry, Garrett College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,144, compared with $12,040 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,352 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Garrett College generally make around $13,943. That is a strong return on a $13,352 median debt.
Frederick Community College came in at #10 for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the city of Frederick, Frederick Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,849, with out-of-state students paying around $10,042. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $7,062. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Frederick Community College generally make around $33,619. That is a strong return on a $7,062 median debt.
Wor Wic Community College landed the #11 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Wor Wic Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Salisbury. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,840, compared with $8,400 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,995 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $51,392. That is a strong return on a $13,995 median debt.
The Community College Of Baltimore County landed the #12 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,110, compared with $10,182 for out-of-state students. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $17,499 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $36,801. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Baltimore came in at #13 for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $23,984. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $52,329. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Howard Community College landed the #14 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Howard Community College is a large public school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $4,599, compared with $10,836 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $18,115. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $56,172. Set against $18,115 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Anne Arundel Community College earned the #15 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Anne Arundel Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Arnold. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,322, while out-of-state students pay about $11,522. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $13,947 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $59,894. Set against $13,947 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $20,836. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $57,901. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
Johns Hopkins University came in at #17 for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $128,210 early in their careers. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Baltimore City Community College earned the #18 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Baltimore City Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Baltimore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,314, while out-of-state students pay about $7,394. Students borrow a median of $11,202 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of Baltimore City Community College earn a median of $51,023 early in their careers. Set against $11,202 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bowie State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Set in the suburb of Bowie, Bowie State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,218, compared with $19,938 for out-of-state students. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $28,474 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Bowie State University generally make around $47,668. That is a strong return on a $28,474 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Maryland University College earned the #20 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,136, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $23,276. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $65,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mount St Marys University came in at #21 for value in general business/commerce this year. Mount St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Emmitsburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,630. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Mount St Marys University generally make around $46,859. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.