by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Maryland, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **10** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 10 graduate schools across over 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
University Of Maryland Baltimore earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Maryland. University Of Maryland Baltimore is a public school based in Baltimore, MD. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,638, compared with $44,811 for out-of-state students. University Of Maryland Baltimore graduates report median early-career earnings of $85,300. Graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
A rank of #2 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the top graduate schools in Maryland. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit school based in Baltimore, MD. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Median early-career earnings reach $84,850. Graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
Out of the 10 graduate schools in Maryland in this year's ranking, University Of Maryland College Park landed the #3 spot. University Of Maryland College Park is a public school based in College Park, MD. About 89% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,901. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete a degree here.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Maryland. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a public school based in Baltimore, MD. University Of Maryland Baltimore County graduates 69% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,256, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,179. Graduates carry a median of $21,331 in student loans.
College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Maryland. Set in Baltimore, MD, College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Students from in state pay about $43,360 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $72,647. Typical student debt is $27,000.
Capitol College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Laurel, MD, Capitol College is a private not-for-profit institution. Capitol College posts a six-year graduation rate of 43%. Students from in state pay about $27,592 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $77,059. Capitol College students take on a median of $26,790 in debt.
Towson University landed the #7 spot in Maryland this year. Towson University is a public school based in Towson, MD. Towson University posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,728, with out-of-state students paying around $29,820. Towson University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,370. Typical student debt is $21,241.
Hood College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Set in Frederick, MD, Hood College is a private not-for-profit institution. Hood College posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,700. Early-career graduates earn a median of $59,332. Graduates carry a median of $24,703 in student loans.
Frostburg State University landed the #9 spot in Maryland this year. Frostburg State University is a public school based in Frostburg, MD. Frostburg State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,220, with out-of-state students paying around $25,814. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,798. Graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans.
Bowie State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Bowie, MD, Bowie State University is a public institution. Bowie State University graduates 38% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,218, with out-of-state students paying around $19,938. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,668. Typical student debt is $28,474.
Morgan State University landed the #11 spot in Maryland this year. Based in Baltimore, MD, Morgan State University is a public institution. Morgan State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 41%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,229, while out-of-state students pay about $19,124. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,736. Graduates carry a median of $30,309 in student loans.
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Maryland. Based in Princess Anne, MD, University Of Maryland Eastern Shore is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,076, compared with $20,122 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,742 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,996.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.