Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Maryland
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in biology, the usual route for pre-medical study, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Maryland20 schools
20 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Maryland.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in biology, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- 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
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- 2
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD · PublicHonor RollTop 5% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade A · Top 4%
- 3
Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 4
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD · PublicTop 15% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade A · Top 7%
- 5
St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's City, MD · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 6
Washington College
Chestertown, MD · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 7
Salisbury University
Salisbury, MD · PublicTop 24% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 22%
- 8
Towson University
Towson, MD · PublicTop 20% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade A- · Top 14%
- 9
Goucher College
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 10
Mount St. Mary's University
Emmitsburg, MD · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 46%
- 11
Stevenson University
Owings Mills, MD · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 12
McDaniel College
Westminster, MD · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 48%
- 13
Hood College
Frederick, MD · Private nonprofit#16 in Maryland
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B
- 14
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- 15
Frostburg State University
Frostburg, MD · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 29%
- 16
Coppin State University
Baltimore, MD · PublicTop 15% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 17
Washington Adventist University
Takoma Park, MD · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 18
Bowie State University
Bowie, MD · Public#22 in Maryland
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 19
Morgan State University
Baltimore, MD · Public#24 in Maryland
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 48%
- 20
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Princess Anne, MD · PublicSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 48%
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins University | About $19,000 | $10,250 | $87,555 | 94% |
| University of Maryland-College Park | About $16,000 | $19,000 | $82,860 | 89% |
| Loyola University Maryland | About $31,000 | $27,000 | $82,652 | 79% |
| University of Maryland-Baltimore County | About $16,000 | $19,500 | $69,960 | 70% |
| St. Mary's College of Maryland | About $18,000 | $21,000 | $60,110 | 70% |
| Washington College | About $28,000 | $26,956 | $65,518 | 65% |
| Salisbury University | About $18,000 | $21,000 | $61,515 | 68% |
| Towson University | About $17,000 | $18,718 | $64,390 | 69% |
| Goucher College | About $22,000 | $26,000 | $53,023 | 57% |
| Mount St. Mary's University | About $23,000 | $25,391 | $64,072 | 65% |
| Stevenson University | About $27,000 | $26,000 | $62,079 | 68% |
| McDaniel College | About $22,000 | $25,000 | $60,663 | 63% |
| Hood College | About $21,000 | $25,000 | $57,089 | 57% |
| Notre Dame of Maryland University | About $19,000 | $22,666 | $65,344 | 50% |
| Frostburg State University | About $17,000 | $21,105 | $55,493 | 50% |
| Coppin State University | About $10,000 | $25,000 | $46,490 | 26% |
| Washington Adventist University | About $19,000 | $30,500 | $64,249 | 29% |
| Bowie State University | About $19,000 | $22,985 | $54,537 | 38% |
| Morgan State University | About $15,000 | $27,250 | $50,698 | 41% |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore | About $13,000 | $27,000 | $47,697 | 35% |
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 23
- Alaska 3
- Arizona 9
- Arkansas 19
- California 69
- Colorado 15
- Connecticut 21
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 8
- Florida 35
- Georgia 49
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 7
- Illinois 48
- Indiana 40
- Iowa 26
- Kansas 23
- Kentucky 25
- Louisiana 22
- Maine 13
- Massachusetts 47
- Michigan 33
- Minnesota 30
- Mississippi 15
- Missouri 40
- Montana 9
- Nebraska 17
- Nevada 4
- New Hampshire 11
- New Jersey 25
- New Mexico 8
- New York 88
- North Carolina 50
- North Dakota 8
- Ohio 60
- Oklahoma 21
- Oregon 18
- Pennsylvania 98
- Puerto Rico 25
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 31
- South Dakota 9
- Tennessee 36
- Texas 68
- Utah 7
- Vermont 7
- Virginia 38
- Washington 18
- West Virginia 15
- Wisconsin 28