Best small colleges in Maryland
Colleges with fewer than 2,000 undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best small colleges in Maryland13 schools
13 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Maryland.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Fewer than 2,000 undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
- 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
St. John's College
Annapolis, MD · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- 488 undergraduates
- 71% graduate
- 2
St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's City, MD · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- 1,577 undergraduates
- 70% graduate
- 3
Washington College
Chestertown, MD · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- 916 undergraduates
- 65% graduate
- 4
Maryland Institute College of Art
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 17% for graduation
- 1,324 undergraduates
- 72% graduate
- 5
- 6
Mount St. Mary's University
Emmitsburg, MD · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- 1,873 undergraduates
- 65% graduate
- 7
McDaniel College
Westminster, MD · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 1,665 undergraduates
- 63% graduate
- 8
- 9
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- 686 undergraduates
- 50% graduate
- 10
Capitol Technology University
Laurel, MD · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- 266 undergraduates
- 43% graduate
- 11
Coppin State University
Baltimore, MD · PublicTop 15% for low net price
- 1,810 undergraduates
- 26% graduate
- 12
Washington Adventist University
Takoma Park, MD · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- 605 undergraduates
- 29% graduate
- 13
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's College | $45,597 | $27,000 | $51,584 | 71% |
| St. Mary's College of Maryland | $18,441 | $21,000 | $60,110 | 70% |
| Washington College | $27,898 | $26,956 | $65,518 | 65% |
| Maryland Institute College of Art | $42,729 | $26,500 | $45,212 | 72% |
| Goucher College | $22,470 | $26,000 | $53,023 | 57% |
| Mount St. Mary's University | $22,655 | $25,391 | $64,072 | 65% |
| 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% |
| Coppin State University | $9,977 | $25,000 | $46,490 | 26% |
| Washington Adventist University | $18,526 | $30,500 | $64,249 | 29% |
| 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 10
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 13
- California 63
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 10
- Florida 27
- Georgia 24
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 25
- Indiana 20
- Iowa 23
- Kansas 18
- Kentucky 18
- Louisiana 8
- Maine 11
- Massachusetts 31
- Michigan 23
- Minnesota 19
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 31
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 12
- New Hampshire 7
- New Jersey 18
- New Mexico 7
- New York 55
- North Carolina 34
- North Dakota 4
- Ohio 58
- Oklahoma 11
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 69
- Puerto Rico 31
- South Carolina 19
- South Dakota 5
- Tennessee 24
- Texas 31
- Utah 7
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 30
- Washington 12
- West Virginia 12
- Wisconsin 15