2027 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Maryland

[Secondary Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/secondary-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for secondary education students.
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2027 Best Value Secondary Education Schools in Maryland
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in secondary education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Secondary Education Schools
Anne Arundel Community College earned the #1 spot for value among secondary education schools in Maryland. 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, compared with $11,522 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,947 to complete the secondary education program here. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Anne Arundel Community College generally make around $59,894. That is a strong return on a $13,947 median debt.
Harford Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $8,832. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $12,624 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $50,636. Set against $12,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in secondary education will find it at University Of Maryland College Park, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $19,500. Secondary Education graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $53,054 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cecil College earned it the #4 place for secondary education. Located in the rural area of North East, Cecil College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,640, while out-of-state students pay about $10,830. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,952.
Students looking for strong value in secondary education will find it at Morgan State University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Baltimore, Morgan State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,229 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,124. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $30,604. Secondary Education graduates of Morgan State University earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,604 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Towson University landed the #6 spot for secondary education value this year. Towson University is a very large public school located in the city of Towson. Students from in state pay about $11,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,820 for out-of-state students. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $56,953. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Frostburg State University placed #7 among the best values for secondary education. Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Frostburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,220, while out-of-state students pay about $25,814. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $26,000. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $48,888. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Salisbury University placed #8 among the best values for secondary education. Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salisbury. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,084, with out-of-state students paying around $22,174. Students borrow a median of $22,804 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $50,544. Set against $22,804 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Johns Hopkins University landed the #9 spot for secondary education value 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. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Secondary Education graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $84,850 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland came in at #10 for value in secondary education this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $43,360. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland generally make around $56,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland admits about 82% of applicants.
Bowie State University landed the #11 spot for secondary education value this year. Located in the suburb of Bowie, Bowie State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,218, while out-of-state students pay about $19,938. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $28,474 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Bowie State University generally make around $52,619. Set against $28,474 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowie State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Mcdaniel College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value secondary education schools. Located in the town of Westminster, Mcdaniel College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,081. Students borrow a median of $23,247 to complete the secondary education program here. Secondary Education graduates of Mcdaniel College earn a median of $57,096 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,247 median debt. Mcdaniel College admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Maryland University College landed the #13 spot for secondary education value this year. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,136, with out-of-state students paying around $12,336. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $23,276 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from University Of Maryland University College generally make around $53,667. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Goucher College landed the #14 spot for secondary education value this year. Goucher College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,350. Typical student debt for secondary education graduates is $25,406. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Goucher College generally make around $58,910. That is a strong return on a $25,406 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Mount St Marys University placed #15 among the best values for secondary education. 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. Secondary Education graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, secondary education degree recipients from Mount St Marys University generally make around $54,517. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mount St Marys University admits about 74% of applicants.
Stevenson University came in at #16 for value in secondary education this year. Set in the suburb of Owings Mills, Stevenson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,560. Students borrow a median of $26,887 to complete the secondary education program here. Early-career secondary education graduates make about $52,395. Set against $26,887 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stevenson University admits about 79% of applicants.
More Secondary Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.