Colleges where the most freshmen return in Maryland
Colleges ranked by first-year retention: the share of full-time freshmen who come back for a second year.
Colleges where the most freshmen return in Maryland16 schools
16 schools qualify, ranked by first-year retention.
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 first-year retention rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by retention rate, 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
- 98% of freshmen return
- 94% graduate
- 2
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 97% of freshmen return
- 93% graduate
- 3
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD · PublicHonor RollTop 5% for graduation
- 96% of freshmen return
- 89% graduate
- 4
Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- 87% of freshmen return
- 79% graduate
- 5
St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's City, MD · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- 86% of freshmen return
- 70% graduate
- 6
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD · PublicTop 15% for earnings
- 85% of freshmen return
- 70% graduate
- 7
Washington College
Chestertown, MD · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- 84% of freshmen return
- 65% graduate
- 8
Maryland Institute College of Art
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 17% for graduation
- 83% of freshmen return
- 72% graduate
- 9
- 10
St. John's College
Annapolis, MD · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- 83% of freshmen return
- 71% graduate
- 11
Stevenson University
Owings Mills, MD · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- 79% of freshmen return
- 68% graduate
- 12
Goucher College
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 79% of freshmen return
- 57% graduate
- 13
- 14
McDaniel College
Westminster, MD · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 76% of freshmen return
- 63% graduate
- 15
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- 73% of freshmen return
- 50% graduate
- 16
Mount St. Mary's University
Emmitsburg, MD · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- 71% of freshmen return
- 65% graduate
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% |
| United States Naval Academy | — | — | — | 93% |
| University of Maryland-College Park | About $16,000 | $19,000 | $82,860 | 89% |
| Loyola University Maryland | About $31,000 | $27,000 | $82,652 | 79% |
| St. Mary's College of Maryland | About $18,000 | $21,000 | $60,110 | 70% |
| University of Maryland-Baltimore County | About $16,000 | $19,500 | $69,960 | 70% |
| Washington College | About $28,000 | $26,956 | $65,518 | 65% |
| Maryland Institute College of Art | About $43,000 | $26,500 | $45,212 | 72% |
| Towson University | About $17,000 | $18,718 | $64,390 | 69% |
| St. John's College | About $46,000 | $27,000 | $51,584 | 71% |
| Stevenson University | About $27,000 | $26,000 | $62,079 | 68% |
| Goucher College | About $22,000 | $26,000 | $53,023 | 57% |
| Salisbury University | About $18,000 | $21,000 | $61,515 | 68% |
| McDaniel College | About $22,000 | $25,000 | $60,663 | 63% |
| Notre Dame of Maryland University | About $19,000 | $22,666 | $65,344 | 50% |
| Mount St. Mary's University | About $23,000 | $25,391 | $64,072 | 65% |
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 63
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 8
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 80
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 31
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 62
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15