by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Maryland, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **27** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed 27 graduate schools 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Our analysis found Johns Hopkins University to be the best graduate school in Maryland. Located in Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Johns Hopkins University graduates report median early-career earnings of $84,850. Typical student debt is $13,426.
Out of the 27 graduate schools in Maryland in this year's ranking, University Of Maryland Baltimore landed the #2 spot. Set in Baltimore, MD, University Of Maryland Baltimore is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $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.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the top graduate schools in Maryland. University Of Maryland College Park is a public school based in College Park, MD. About 89% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Median early-career earnings reach $57,901. Graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Maryland. Located in Baltimore, MD, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,256, while out-of-state students pay about $31,225. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,179 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,331 to complete a degree here.
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. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,150. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,021. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Towson University did well this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Towson, MD. Towson University graduates 70% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,728, with out-of-state students paying around $29,820. Median early-career earnings reach $50,370. Towson University students take on a median of $21,241 in debt.
Salisbury University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Salisbury, MD, Salisbury University is a public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,084 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,174. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,476 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $23,545 in student loans.
Mcdaniel College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Westminster, MD. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Students from in state pay about $52,081 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,904. Students borrow a median of $23,247 to complete a degree here.
Hood College landed the #9 spot in Maryland this year. Located 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,332 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $24,703.
College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland placed #10 among the best graduate schools in Maryland. Located in Baltimore, MD, College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland is a private not-for-profit institution. College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. In-state tuition and fees run about $43,360. College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland graduates report median early-career earnings of $72,647. College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland students take on a median of $27,000 in debt.
Mount St Marys University landed the #11 spot in Maryland this year. Mount St Marys University is a private not-for-profit school based in Emmitsburg, MD. Mount St Marys University posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. In-state tuition and fees run about $48,630. Mount St Marys University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,657. Typical student debt is $23,539.
Stevenson University placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Maryland. This private not-for-profit school is set in Owings Mills, MD. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,560. Stevenson University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,346. Students borrow a median of $27,042 to complete a degree here.
St Marys College Of Maryland placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Maryland. Based in St. Mary's City, MD, St Marys College Of Maryland is a public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Students borrow a median of $22,655 to complete a degree here.
University Of Maryland University College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Set in Adelphi, MD, University Of Maryland University College is a public institution. Roughly 20% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $8,136 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $65,890. University Of Maryland University College students take on a median of $23,276 in debt.
Goucher College placed #15 among the best graduate schools in Maryland. Located in Baltimore, MD, Goucher College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,350. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,670. Graduates carry a median of $25,406 in student loans.
Maryland Institute College Of Art landed the #16 spot in Maryland this year. Maryland Institute College Of Art is a private not-for-profit school based in Baltimore, MD. Maryland Institute College Of Art posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,800. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,067. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Capitol College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Laurel, MD. The six-year graduation rate is 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.
University Of Baltimore did well this year, earning the #18 position. Set in Baltimore, MD, University Of Baltimore is a public institution. University Of Baltimore posts a six-year graduation rate of 38%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $23,984. Median early-career earnings reach $56,837. Typical student debt is $29,681.
Frostburg State University landed the #19 spot in Maryland this year. This public school is set in Frostburg, MD. Frostburg State University graduates 50% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,220, while out-of-state students pay about $25,814. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,798 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,340 to complete a degree here.
St Johns College Maryland placed #20 among the best graduate schools in Maryland. Based in Annapolis, MD, St Johns College Maryland is a private not-for-profit institution. St Johns College Maryland graduates 71% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,684. Median early-career earnings reach $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. Bowie State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 38%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,218, compared with $19,938 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,668 early in their careers. Bowie State University students take on a median of $28,474 in debt.
Washington Adventist University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Located in Takoma Park, MD, Washington Adventist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 28% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $26,604. Early-career graduates earn a median of $85,352. Washington Adventist University students take on a median of $47,033 in debt.
Morgan State University landed the #23 spot in Maryland this year. Set in Baltimore, MD, Morgan State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 41%. Students from in state pay about $8,229 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,124 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,736. The median student debt is $30,309.
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore placed #24 among the best graduate schools in Maryland. Set in Princess Anne, MD, University Of Maryland Eastern Shore is a public institution. University Of Maryland Eastern Shore graduates 35% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,076, compared with $20,122 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,742. University Of Maryland Eastern Shore students take on a median of $26,996 in debt.
Coppin State University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Coppin State University is a public school based in Baltimore, MD. Coppin State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 26%. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,100, while out-of-state students pay about $14,024. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,062 early in their careers. The median student debt is $33,355.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.