Best value colleges in Maryland
Colleges with an Academic Excellence grade of B+ or better, ranked by Value: net price, graduation rate, earnings, and debt from federal data.
Best value colleges in Maryland15 schools
15 schools qualify, ranked by Value.
How this list is made
- Schools in Maryland.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has a Value score from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Value, highest first.
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%
- Net price $18,809 a year
- 2
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD · PublicHonor RollTop 5% for graduation
- Value grade A · Top 4%
- Net price $15,678 a year
- 3
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD · PublicTop 15% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 7%
- Net price $16,467 a year
- 4
Towson University
Towson, MD · PublicTop 20% for earnings
- Value grade A- · Top 14%
- Net price $17,413 a year
- 5
Salisbury University
Salisbury, MD · PublicTop 24% for graduation
- Value grade B+ · Top 22%
- Net price $17,743 a year
- 6
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- Net price $19,169 a year
- 7
St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's City, MD · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- Net price $18,441 a year
- 8
Mount St. Mary's University
Emmitsburg, MD · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- Value grade B · Top 46%
- Net price $22,655 a year
- 9
McDaniel College
Westminster, MD · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B · Top 48%
- Net price $21,916 a year
- 10
Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- Net price $30,574 a year
- 11
Stevenson University
Owings Mills, MD · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- Value grade B-
- Net price $26,505 a year
- 12
Goucher College
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B-
- Net price $22,470 a year
- 13
Washington College
Chestertown, MD · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- Net price $27,898 a year
- 14
St. John's College
Annapolis, MD · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Value grade C+
- Net price $45,597 a year
- 15
Maryland Institute College of Art
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 17% for graduation
- Value grade C+
- Net price $42,729 a year
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% |
| University of Maryland-College Park | $15,678 | $19,000 | $82,860 | 89% |
| University of Maryland-Baltimore County | $16,467 | $19,500 | $69,960 | 70% |
| Towson University | $17,413 | $18,718 | $64,390 | 69% |
| Salisbury University | $17,743 | $21,000 | $61,515 | 68% |
| Notre Dame of Maryland University | $19,169 | $22,666 | $65,344 | 50% |
| St. Mary's College of Maryland | $18,441 | $21,000 | $60,110 | 70% |
| Mount St. Mary's University | $22,655 | $25,391 | $64,072 | 65% |
| McDaniel College | $21,916 | $25,000 | $60,663 | 63% |
| Loyola University Maryland | $30,574 | $27,000 | $82,652 | 79% |
| Stevenson University | $26,505 | $26,000 | $62,079 | 68% |
| Goucher College | $22,470 | $26,000 | $53,023 | 57% |
| Washington College | $27,898 | $26,956 | $65,518 | 65% |
| St. John's College | $45,597 | $27,000 | $51,584 | 71% |
| Maryland Institute College of Art | $42,729 | $26,500 | $45,212 | 72% |
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 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 59
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 17
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 75
- North Carolina 16
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 10
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15