Colleges with the lowest student debt in Maryland
Colleges whose graduates leave with the least federal student debt.
Colleges with the lowest student debt in Maryland15 schools
15 schools qualify, ranked by median debt.
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 the median federal loan debt of graduates from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by median debt, lowest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Maryland
- Median debt $10,250
- 94% graduate
- 2
- 3
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD · PublicHonor RollTop 5% for graduation
- Median debt $19,000
- 89% graduate
- 4
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD · PublicTop 15% for earnings
- Median debt $19,500
- 70% graduate
- 5Tie
St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's City, MD · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Median debt $21,000
- 70% graduate
- 5Tie
- 7
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- Median debt $22,666
- 50% graduate
- 8
McDaniel College
Westminster, MD · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Median debt $25,000
- 63% graduate
- 9
Mount St. Mary's University
Emmitsburg, MD · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- Median debt $25,391
- 65% graduate
- 10Tie
Goucher College
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Median debt $26,000
- 57% graduate
- 10Tie
Stevenson University
Owings Mills, MD · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- Median debt $26,000
- 68% graduate
- 12
Maryland Institute College of Art
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 17% for graduation
- Median debt $26,500
- 72% graduate
- 13
Washington College
Chestertown, MD · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- Median debt $26,956
- 65% graduate
- 14Tie
Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- Median debt $27,000
- 79% graduate
- 14Tie
St. John's College
Annapolis, MD · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Median debt $27,000
- 71% graduate
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% |
| Towson University | $17,413 | $18,718 | $64,390 | 69% |
| University of Maryland-College Park | $15,678 | $19,000 | $82,860 | 89% |
| 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% |
| Salisbury University | $17,743 | $21,000 | $61,515 | 68% |
| Notre Dame of Maryland University | $19,169 | $22,666 | $65,344 | 50% |
| McDaniel College | $21,916 | $25,000 | $60,663 | 63% |
| Mount St. Mary's University | $22,655 | $25,391 | $64,072 | 65% |
| Goucher College | $22,470 | $26,000 | $53,023 | 57% |
| Stevenson University | $26,505 | $26,000 | $62,079 | 68% |
| Maryland Institute College of Art | $42,729 | $26,500 | $45,212 | 72% |
| Washington College | $27,898 | $26,956 | $65,518 | 65% |
| Loyola University Maryland | $30,574 | $27,000 | $82,652 | 79% |
| St. John's College | $45,597 | $27,000 | $51,584 | 71% |
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 61
- 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 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 75
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 21
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15