With all of the graduate school options in Maryland, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This list ranks **16** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 16 graduate schools 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.
Early-Career Salaries
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Starting Salary ( 35896 to 64845 )
Top 25 Graduate Schools in Maryland
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Our analysis found Johns Hopkins University to be the best graduate school in Maryland. Set in Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Students from in state pay about $64,730 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $84,850. Graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Maryland Baltimore one of the top graduate schools in Maryland. This public school is set in Baltimore, MD. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,638, with out-of-state students paying around $44,811. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $85,300. University Of Maryland Baltimore students take on a median of $21,500 in debt.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Maryland. This public school is set in College Park, MD. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. University Of Maryland College Park graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,901. The median student debt is $20,836.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Maryland Baltimore County one of the top graduate schools in Maryland. Based in Baltimore, MD, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a public institution. University Of Maryland Baltimore County graduates 69% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,256 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,225. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,179 early in their careers. University Of Maryland Baltimore County students take on a median of $21,331 in debt.
The strong outcomes at Loyola University Baltimore earned it the #5 place in Maryland. Set in Baltimore, MD, Loyola University Baltimore is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,150. Median early-career earnings reach $54,021. Typical student debt is $27,000.
Towson University landed the #6 spot in Maryland this year. Located in Towson, MD, Towson University is a public institution. Towson University graduates 70% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,728, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,370. Towson University students take on a median of $21,241 in debt.
Mcdaniel College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in Westminster, MD, Mcdaniel College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $52,081 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $54,904. Typical student debt is $23,247.
Salisbury University placed #8 among the best graduate schools in Maryland. Located in Salisbury, MD, Salisbury University is a public institution. Salisbury University graduates 68% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,084, compared with $22,174 for out-of-state students. Salisbury University graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,476. Graduates carry a median of $23,545 in student loans.
Mount St Marys University landed the #9 spot in Maryland this year. Based in Emmitsburg, MD, Mount St Marys University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Students from in state pay about $48,630 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $50,657. Students borrow a median of $23,539 to complete a degree here.
Stevenson University placed #10 among the best graduate schools in Maryland. Based in Owings Mills, MD, Stevenson University is a private not-for-profit institution. Stevenson University graduates 68% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,560. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,346 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $27,042.
College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland did well this year, earning the #11 position. College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland is a private not-for-profit school based in Baltimore, MD. College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,360. Median early-career earnings reach $72,647. The median student debt is $27,000.
Hood College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Frederick, MD. Hood College graduates 57% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $47,700. Median early-career earnings reach $59,332. Students borrow a median of $24,703 to complete a degree here.
St Marys College Of Maryland placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Maryland. St Marys College Of Maryland is a public school based in St. Mary's City, MD. About 70% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,298, 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.
Goucher College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Set in Baltimore, MD, Goucher College is a private not-for-profit institution. Goucher College posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,350. Goucher College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,670. Graduates carry a median of $25,406 in student loans.
University Of Maryland University College placed #15 among the best graduate schools in Maryland. Located in Adelphi, MD, University Of Maryland University College is a public institution. Roughly 20% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,136, with out-of-state students paying around $12,336. Early-career graduates earn a median of $65,890. The median student debt is $23,276.
Maryland Institute College Of Art ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Baltimore, MD, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $56,800. Maryland Institute College Of Art graduates report median early-career earnings of $37,067. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
University Of Baltimore ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Baltimore, MD, University Of Baltimore is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $23,984. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,837 early in their careers. The median student debt is $29,681.
Frostburg State University placed #18 among the best graduate schools in Maryland. Set in Frostburg, MD, Frostburg State University is a public institution. Frostburg State University graduates 50% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,220, compared with $25,814 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $42,798. Students borrow a median of $25,340 to complete a degree here.
Capitol College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Based in Laurel, MD, Capitol College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 43% of students finish 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.
St Johns College Maryland did well this year, earning the #20 position. St Johns College Maryland is a private not-for-profit school based in Annapolis, MD. St Johns College Maryland graduates 71% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,684. Early-career graduates earn a median of $34,603. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Bowie State University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Bowie, MD. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. Students from in state pay about $9,218 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,938. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,668. The median student debt is $28,474.
Washington Adventist University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Set in Takoma Park, MD, Washington Adventist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 28%. In-state tuition and fees average $26,604. Median early-career earnings reach $85,352. Washington Adventist University students take on a median of $47,033 in debt.
Maryland University Of Integrative Health landed the #23 spot in Maryland this year. Maryland University Of Integrative Health is a private not-for-profit school based in Laurel, MD. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,662. Graduates carry a median of $19,457 in student loans.
Morgan State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Baltimore, MD, Morgan State University is a public institution. Roughly 41% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $8,229 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,124. Median early-career earnings reach $49,736. Graduates carry a median of $30,309 in student loans.
Coppin State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Coppin State University is a public school based in Baltimore, MD. Roughly 26% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,100, compared with $14,024 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,062 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $33,355 in student loans.
Rest of the Top 20% Best Graduate Schools in Maryland
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Graduate schools 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).