2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in Maryland
University Of Maryland College Park ranks #1 of 28 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in Maryland ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 58% six-year graduation rate and $70,838 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.

With all of the college options in Maryland, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **28** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 28 colleges using more than 20 objective factors 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 25 Colleges in Maryland
University Of Maryland College Park leads the 28 ranked colleges in Maryland, followed by Johns Hopkins University (#2) and University Of Maryland Baltimore (#3). Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Our analysis found University Of Maryland College Park to be the best college in Maryland. This public school is set in College Park, MD. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,901. Typical student debt is $20,836.
You'll be in good company at Johns Hopkins University, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. Johns Hopkins University posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. Median early-career earnings reach $84,850. The median student debt is $13,426.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Maryland Baltimore one of the top colleges in Maryland. University Of Maryland Baltimore is a public school based in Baltimore, MD. In-state tuition and fees average $13,638, while out-of-state students pay about $44,811. Graduates go on to earn a median of $85,300 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Towson University earned it the #4 place in Maryland. Towson University is a public school based in Towson, MD. Towson University graduates 70% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,728, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,370. Students borrow a median of $21,241 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Maryland Baltimore County one of the top colleges in Maryland. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a public school based in Baltimore, MD. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,256, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,179. Students borrow a median of $21,331 to complete a degree here.
Loyola University Baltimore came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Baltimore, MD. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. In-state tuition and fees run about $57,150. Loyola University Baltimore graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,021. Typical student debt is $27,000.
Salisbury University landed the #7 spot in Maryland this year. This public school is set in Salisbury, MD. Salisbury University graduates 68% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,084, with out-of-state students paying around $22,174. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,476 early in their careers. The median student debt is $23,545.
College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Baltimore, MD, College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland is a private not-for-profit institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,360. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $72,647. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
Stevenson University placed #9 among the best colleges in Maryland. Based in Owings Mills, MD, Stevenson University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Students from in state pay about $40,560 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,346. Graduates carry a median of $27,042 in student loans.
St Marys College Of Maryland placed #10 among the best colleges in Maryland. Based in St. Mary's City, MD, St Marys College Of Maryland is a public institution. St Marys College Of Maryland posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. Students from in state pay about $15,298 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,374. St Marys College Of Maryland graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,665. Graduates carry a median of $22,655 in student loans.
Mount St Marys University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Emmitsburg, MD. Mount St Marys University graduates 65% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $48,630 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,657 early in their careers. The median student debt is $23,539.
Mcdaniel College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Westminster, MD. Mcdaniel College posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. In-state tuition and fees run about $52,081. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,904. Typical student debt is $23,247.
University Of Maryland University College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Adelphi, MD. About 20% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,136 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,336. Graduates go on to earn a median of $65,890 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,276 to complete a degree here.
Hood College did well this year, earning the #14 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Frederick, MD. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,700. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,332 early in their careers. Hood College students take on a median of $24,703 in debt.
Washington College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Washington College is a private not-for-profit school based in Chestertown, MD. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. In-state tuition and fees average $55,081. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,940 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,651.
University Of Baltimore ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Baltimore, MD, University Of Baltimore is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $23,984. University Of Baltimore graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,837. Students borrow a median of $29,681 to complete a degree here.
Frostburg State University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Frostburg, MD, Frostburg State University is a public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,814 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $42,798. The median student debt is $25,340.
Capitol College placed #18 among the best colleges in Maryland. Capitol College is a private not-for-profit school based in Laurel, MD. Capitol College graduates 43% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,592. Median early-career earnings reach $77,059. Graduates carry a median of $26,790 in student loans.
Maryland Institute College Of Art came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Located in Baltimore, MD, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,800. Median early-career earnings reach $37,067. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Bowie State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Bowie State University is a public school based in Bowie, MD. Bowie State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 38%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,218, while out-of-state students pay about $19,938. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,668. Typical student debt is $28,474.
Goucher College landed the #21 spot in Maryland this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Baltimore, MD. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. In-state tuition and fees run about $53,350. Goucher College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,670. Students borrow a median of $25,406 to complete a degree here.
St Johns College Maryland came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Set in Annapolis, MD, St Johns College Maryland is a private not-for-profit institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $40,684 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $34,603. Typical student debt is $27,000.
Morgan State University placed #23 among the best colleges in Maryland. This public school is set in Baltimore, MD. Morgan State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 41%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,229, compared with $19,124 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $30,309.
Washington Adventist University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Takoma Park, MD, Washington Adventist University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 28% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $26,604 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $85,352. Typical student debt is $47,033.
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Located in Princess Anne, MD, University Of Maryland Eastern Shore is a public institution. About 35% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,076, with out-of-state students paying around $20,122. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,742 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,996.
Rest of the Top 20% Best Colleges in Maryland
These 3 colleges rank #26 through #28 of 28 in Maryland. These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
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Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Colleges are scored on 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.