2027 Best Value General Studies Schools in Maryland

[General Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/general-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general studies schools.
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2027 Best Value General Studies Schools in Maryland
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Studies Schools
Chesapeake College tops our 2027 list of the best value general studies schools in Maryland. Set in the rural area of Wye Mills, Chesapeake College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,274 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,768. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the general studies program here. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Chesapeake College generally make around $29,611. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in general studies will find it at Prince Georges Community College, which ranked #2. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $8,762. General Studies graduates carry a median of $13,499 in student loans. General Studies graduates of Prince Georges Community College earn a median of $56,960 early in their careers. Set against $13,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cecil College earned it the #3 place for general studies. Set in the rural area of North East, Cecil College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,640, compared with $10,830 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,952 ten years after entry.
Howard Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Columbia, Howard Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,599, while out-of-state students pay about $10,836. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $10,200. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Howard Community College generally make around $22,042. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general studies will find it at Baltimore City Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Baltimore, Baltimore City Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,314 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,394. General Studies graduates carry a median of $8,850 in student loans. Early-career general studies graduates make about $41,120. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Johns Hopkins University earned the #6 position for value in general studies this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. General Studies graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. General Studies graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $45,147 early in their careers. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.