by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in Maryland, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks 69 programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated 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.
The best graduate school for you depends on what you want to study. Drill down by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Or choose a degree level:
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Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Leading the list is Johns Hopkins University, our #1 graduate school in Maryland. This private not-for-profit school is set in Baltimore, MD. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $84,850. Johns Hopkins University students take on a median of $13,426 in debt.
You'll be in good company at University Of Maryland Baltimore, which ranked #2 this year. Set in Baltimore, MD, University Of Maryland Baltimore is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,638, while out-of-state students pay about $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.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the top graduate schools in Maryland. Based in College Park, MD, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,901. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at University Of Maryland Baltimore County earned it the #4 place in Maryland. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a public school based in Baltimore, MD. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,256, while out-of-state students pay about $31,225. University Of Maryland Baltimore County graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,179. Typical student debt is $21,331.
Out of the 69 graduate schools in Maryland in this year's ranking, Towson University landed the #5 spot. Based in Towson, MD, Towson University is a public institution. Towson University graduates 70% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,728, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,370 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,241 to complete a degree here.
Loyola University Baltimore placed #6 among the best graduate schools in Maryland. Located in Baltimore, MD, Loyola University Baltimore is a private not-for-profit institution. Loyola University Baltimore graduates 79% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $57,150 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,021 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $27,000.
Salisbury University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Salisbury University is a public school based in Salisbury, MD. Salisbury University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. Students from in state pay about $11,084 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,174. Salisbury University graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,476. The median student debt is $23,545.
Stevenson University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Based in Owings Mills, MD, Stevenson University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,560. Median early-career earnings reach $50,346. Graduates carry a median of $27,042 in student loans.
Mcdaniel College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. 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 average $52,081. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,904. Graduates carry a median of $23,247 in student loans.
Mount St Marys University placed #10 among the best graduate schools in Maryland. Mount St Marys University is a private not-for-profit school based in Emmitsburg, MD. About 65% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $48,630 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,657. Typical student debt is $23,539.
College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland came in at #11 in this year's ranking. 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 average $43,360. Median early-career earnings reach $72,647. Typical student debt is $27,000.
St Marys College Of Maryland landed the #12 spot in Maryland this year. Located 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%. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,298, compared with $31,374 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,665 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $22,655 in student loans.
Hood College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Frederick, MD, Hood College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $47,700. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,332 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,703 in student loans.
Washington College landed the #14 spot in Maryland this year. Located in Chestertown, MD, Washington College is a private not-for-profit institution. Washington College posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,081. Median early-career earnings reach $37,940. Typical student debt is $26,651.
University Of Maryland University College placed #15 among the best graduate schools in Maryland. This public school is set in Adelphi, MD. About 20% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,136, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. 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.
Capitol College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Set in Laurel, MD, Capitol College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 43% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,592. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $77,059. Students borrow a median of $26,790 to complete a degree here.
Frostburg State University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Frostburg State University is a public school based in Frostburg, MD. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,220, with out-of-state students paying around $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.
University Of Baltimore did well this year, earning the #18 position. This public school is set in Baltimore, MD. Roughly 38% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, compared with $23,984 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $56,837. Students borrow a median of $29,681 to complete a degree here.
Goucher College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Goucher College is a private not-for-profit school based in Baltimore, MD. Goucher College graduates 57% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $53,350. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,670. The median student debt is $25,406.
Maryland Institute College Of Art ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Baltimore, MD, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,800. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,067 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Anne Arundel Community College landed the #21 spot in Maryland this year. Anne Arundel Community College is a public school based in Arnold, MD. 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. The median student debt is $13,947.
Montgomery College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Rockville, MD, Montgomery College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,394, while out-of-state students pay about $14,250. Early-career graduates earn a median of $24,833. Typical student debt is $11,230.
Frederick Community College landed the #23 spot in Maryland this year. Based in Frederick, MD, Frederick Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,849 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,042. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,733. Frederick Community College students take on a median of $10,778 in debt.
The Community College Of Baltimore County ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Baltimore, MD, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,110, compared with $10,182 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,440. The Community College Of Baltimore County students take on a median of $18,038 in debt.
Prince Georges Community College landed the #25 spot in Maryland this year. Located in Largo, MD, Prince Georges Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,034, compared with $8,762 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $56,960. The median student debt is $13,949.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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.