2027 Best Value Individualized Studies Schools in Maryland

[Individualized Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/individualized-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for individualized studies students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Individualized Studies Schools in Maryland
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the individualized studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Individualized Studies Schools
Carroll Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value individualized studies schools 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, compared with $10,158 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for individualized studies graduates is $8,750. Early-career individualized studies graduates make about $23,320. Set against $8,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Chesapeake College one of the best values for individualized studies. Set in the rural area of Wye Mills, Chesapeake College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,274, with out-of-state students paying around $8,768. Typical student debt for individualized studies graduates is $5,500. Individualized Studies graduates of Chesapeake College earn a median of $29,611 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hagerstown Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in individualized studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Hagerstown, Hagerstown Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,320, while out-of-state students pay about $8,190. Typical student debt for individualized studies graduates is $11,548. Soon after graduation, individualized studies degree recipients from Hagerstown Community College generally make around $25,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Montgomery College earned it the #4 place for individualized studies. Located in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,394, while out-of-state students pay about $14,250. Individualized Studies graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, individualized studies degree recipients from Montgomery College generally make around $20,217. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Prince Georges Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value individualized studies schools. Set in the suburb of Largo, Prince Georges Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,034, with out-of-state students paying around $8,762. Individualized Studies graduates carry a median of $13,499 in student loans. Soon after graduation, individualized studies degree recipients from Prince Georges Community College generally make around $31,322. That is a strong return on a $13,499 median debt.
College Of Southern Maryland landed the #6 spot for individualized studies value this year. Located in the rural area of La Plata, College Of Southern Maryland is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,450 for out-of-state students. Individualized Studies graduates carry a median of $9,456 in student loans. Early-career individualized studies graduates make about $29,862. Set against $9,456 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Allegany College Of Maryland placed #7 among the best values for individualized studies. Located in the town of Cumberland, Allegany College Of Maryland is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,940, with out-of-state students paying around $12,620. Individualized Studies graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Individualized Studies graduates of Allegany College Of Maryland earn a median of $27,637 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harford Community College landed the #8 spot for individualized studies value this year. Located in the rural area of Bel Air, Harford Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,032, while out-of-state students pay about $8,832. Individualized Studies graduates carry a median of $10,227 in student loans. Individualized Studies graduates of Harford Community College earn a median of $26,448 early in their careers. Set against $10,227 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wor Wic Community College came in at #9 for value in individualized studies this year. Wor Wic Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Salisbury. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,840, while out-of-state students pay about $8,400. Typical student debt for individualized studies graduates is $6,500. Individualized Studies graduates of Wor Wic Community College earn a median of $30,763 early in their careers. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Garrett College earned the #10 position for value in individualized studies 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 individualized studies program here. Individualized Studies graduates of Garrett College earn a median of $13,943 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,352 median debt.
Frederick Community College earned the #11 position for value in individualized studies this year. Located in the city of Frederick, Frederick Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,849, with out-of-state students paying around $10,042. Individualized Studies graduates carry a median of $8,935 in student loans. Early-career individualized studies graduates make about $22,067. That is a strong return on a $8,935 median debt.
The Community College Of Baltimore County ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value individualized studies schools. The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,110, with out-of-state students paying around $10,182. Typical student debt for individualized studies graduates is $13,469. Early-career individualized studies graduates make about $27,852. Set against $13,469 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Anne Arundel Community College earned the #13 position for value in individualized studies this year. Located in the suburb of Arnold, Anne Arundel Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,322, with out-of-state students paying around $11,522. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the individualized studies program here. Individualized Studies graduates of Anne Arundel Community College earn a median of $25,826 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johns Hopkins University landed the #14 spot for individualized studies 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. Individualized Studies graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Individualized Studies graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $45,147 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland placed #15 among the best values for individualized studies. Set in the city of Baltimore, College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $43,360 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for individualized studies graduates is $28,000. Individualized Studies graduates of College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland earn a median of $48,819 early in their careers. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Maryland University College earned the #16 position for value in individualized studies this year. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,136 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,336. Typical student debt for individualized studies graduates is $14,375. Early-career individualized studies graduates make about $37,634. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
More Individualized Studies 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.