Best colleges in Maryland
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in Maryland26 schools
26 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Maryland.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Maryland
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- 94% graduate
- 2
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 93% graduate
- 3
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD · PublicHonor RollTop 5% for graduation
- Value grade A · Top 4%
- 89% graduate
- 4
Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- 79% graduate
- 5Tie
St. John's College
Annapolis, MD · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Value grade C+
- 71% graduate
- 5Tie
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD · PublicTop 15% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 7%
- 70% graduate
- 7
St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's City, MD · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 70% graduate
- 8
- 9
Salisbury University
Salisbury, MD · PublicTop 24% for graduation
- Value grade B+ · Top 22%
- 68% graduate
- 10
Maryland Institute College of Art
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 17% for graduation
- Value grade C+
- 72% graduate
- 11
- 12
- 13
Mount St. Mary's University
Emmitsburg, MD · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- Value grade B · Top 46%
- 65% graduate
- 14
Stevenson University
Owings Mills, MD · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- Value grade B-
- 68% graduate
- 15
McDaniel College
Westminster, MD · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B · Top 48%
- 63% graduate
- 16
- 17
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- 50% graduate
- 18
Capitol Technology University
Laurel, MD · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- Value grade A- · Top 17%
- 43% graduate
- 19
Frostburg State University
Frostburg, MD · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- Value grade B+ · Top 29%
- 50% graduate
- 20
Coppin State University
Baltimore, MD · PublicTop 15% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 26% graduate
- 21
Washington Adventist University
Takoma Park, MD · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 29% graduate
- 22
- 23
University of Maryland Global Campus
Adelphi, MD · PublicTop 19% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 32%
- 33% graduate
- 24
- 25
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins University | $18,809 | $10,250 | $87,555 | 94% |
| United States Naval Academy | — | — | — | 93% |
| University of Maryland-College Park | $15,678 | $19,000 | $82,860 | 89% |
| Loyola University Maryland | $30,574 | $27,000 | $82,652 | 79% |
| St. John's College | $45,597 | $27,000 | $51,584 | 71% |
| University of Maryland-Baltimore County | $16,467 | $19,500 | $69,960 | 70% |
| St. Mary's College of Maryland | $18,441 | $21,000 | $60,110 | 70% |
| Washington College | $27,898 | $26,956 | $65,518 | 65% |
| Salisbury University | $17,743 | $21,000 | $61,515 | 68% |
| Maryland Institute College of Art | $42,729 | $26,500 | $45,212 | 72% |
| Towson University | $17,413 | $18,718 | $64,390 | 69% |
| Goucher College | $22,470 | $26,000 | $53,023 | 57% |
| Mount St. Mary's University | $22,655 | $25,391 | $64,072 | 65% |
| Stevenson University | $26,505 | $26,000 | $62,079 | 68% |
| McDaniel College | $21,916 | $25,000 | $60,663 | 63% |
| Hood College | $20,873 | $25,000 | $57,089 | 57% |
| Notre Dame of Maryland University | $19,169 | $22,666 | $65,344 | 50% |
| Capitol Technology University | $22,102 | $20,264 | $85,035 | 43% |
| Frostburg State University | $16,715 | $21,105 | $55,493 | 50% |
| Coppin State University | $9,977 | $25,000 | $46,490 | 26% |
| Washington Adventist University | $18,526 | $30,500 | $64,249 | 29% |
| Bowie State University | $19,298 | $22,985 | $54,537 | 38% |
| University of Maryland Global Campus | $22,063 | $21,000 | $65,287 | 33% |
| Morgan State University | $14,985 | $27,250 | $50,698 | 41% |
| University of Baltimore | $13,868 | $23,250 | $61,335 | 38% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3