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2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in Maryland

University Of Maryland University College ranks #1 of 19 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in Maryland ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 19 colleges average a 29% six-year graduation rate and $59,925 in median earnings five years after graduation.

19 Colleges
$59,925 Avg Salary*
29% Avg Grad Rate*

Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.

2027 Best Associate's Degree Colleges Quality Badge With all of the college options in Maryland, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **19** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.

To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 19 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.

Top 19 Colleges in Maryland

University Of Maryland University College leads the 19 ranked colleges in Maryland, followed by Anne Arundel Community College (#2) and Montgomery College (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:

1

No school ranked higher than University Of Maryland University College this year in Maryland. This public school is set in Adelphi, MD. University Of Maryland University College posts a six-year graduation rate of 20%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,136, with out-of-state students paying around $12,336. University Of Maryland University College graduates report median early-career earnings of $65,890. University Of Maryland University College students take on a median of $23,276 in debt.

2

The strong outcomes at Anne Arundel Community College earned it the #2 place in Maryland. Located in Arnold, MD, Anne Arundel Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,322, with out-of-state students paying around $11,522. Early-career graduates earn a median of $59,894. Students borrow a median of $13,947 to complete a degree here.

3
Montgomery College crest
Montgomery College
Rockville, MD

A rank of #3 makes Montgomery College one of the top colleges in Maryland. This public school is set in Rockville, MD. In-state tuition and fees average $5,394, with out-of-state students paying around $14,250. Graduates go on to earn a median of $24,833 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $11,230.

4

Out of the 19 colleges in Maryland in this year's ranking, Prince Georges Community College landed the #4 spot. Set in Largo, MD, Prince Georges Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,034, compared with $8,762 for out-of-state students. Prince Georges Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,960. Students borrow a median of $13,949 to complete a degree here.

5

Out of the 19 colleges in Maryland in this year's ranking, College Of Southern Maryland landed the #5 spot. Set in La Plata, MD, College Of Southern Maryland is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,200, while out-of-state students pay about $9,450. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,719 early in their careers. College Of Southern Maryland students take on a median of $9,728 in debt.

6

Frederick Community College placed #6 among the best colleges in Maryland. This public school is set in Frederick, MD. Students from in state pay about $3,849 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,042. Frederick Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,733. Graduates carry a median of $10,778 in student loans.

7

The Community College Of Baltimore County did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Baltimore, MD, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,110 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,182 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,440 early in their careers. The median student debt is $18,038.

8

Howard Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Columbia, MD. In-state tuition and fees average $4,599, with out-of-state students paying around $10,836. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,172. The median student debt is $18,115.

9

Harford Community College landed the #9 spot in Maryland this year. Harford Community College is a public school based in Bel Air, MD. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,032, while out-of-state students pay about $8,832. Harford Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,636. Harford Community College students take on a median of $12,624 in debt.

10

Hagerstown Community College did well this year, earning the #10 position. Set in Hagerstown, MD, Hagerstown Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,320, with out-of-state students paying around $8,190. Median early-career earnings reach $46,478. Typical student debt is $15,126.

11

Carroll Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Westminster, MD, Carroll Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,308 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,158 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,058. Graduates carry a median of $17,398 in student loans.

12

Wor Wic Community College landed the #12 spot in Maryland this year. Based in Salisbury, MD, Wor Wic Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,840, compared with $8,400 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $51,392. Typical student debt is $13,995.

13

Baltimore City Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Baltimore, MD, Baltimore City Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,314, with out-of-state students paying around $7,394. Median early-career earnings reach $51,023. The median student debt is $11,202.

14

Allegany College Of Maryland came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Allegany College Of Maryland is a public school based in Cumberland, MD. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,940, with out-of-state students paying around $12,620. Median early-career earnings reach $42,542. The median student debt is $18,823.

15
Cecil College crest
Cecil College
North East, MD

Cecil College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Located in North East, MD, Cecil College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,830.

16
Chesapeake College crest
Chesapeake College
Wye Mills, MD

Chesapeake College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Set in Wye Mills, MD, Chesapeake College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,274, compared with $8,768 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,395. Chesapeake College students take on a median of $8,380 in debt.

17

Strayer University Maryland did well this year, earning the #17 position. Based in Baltimore, MD, Strayer University Maryland is a private for-profit institution. Strayer University Maryland graduates 38% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,920. Median early-career earnings reach $58,506. Students borrow a median of $47,631 to complete a degree here.

18
Garrett College crest
Garrett College
McHenry, MD

Garrett College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in McHenry, MD, Garrett College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,144, compared with $12,040 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $13,943. Garrett College students take on a median of $13,352 in debt.

19

Fortis College Landover came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Fortis College Landover is a private for-profit school based in Landover, MD. In-state tuition and fees average $16,522. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,755. Students borrow a median of $18,174 to complete a degree here.

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Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

References

See our data sources and methodologies.

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