Most affordable colleges with strong academics in Maryland
The lowest net prices among colleges with an Academic Excellence grade of B or better.
Most affordable colleges with strong academics in Maryland15 schools
15 schools qualify, ranked by net price.
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 net price from federal data (the average yearly cost after grants, College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by net price, lowest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD · PublicHonor RollTop 5% for graduation
- Net price $15,678 a year
- 89% graduate
- 2
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD · PublicTop 15% for earnings
- Net price $16,467 a year
- 70% graduate
- 3
- 4
Salisbury University
Salisbury, MD · PublicTop 24% for graduation
- Net price $17,743 a year
- 68% graduate
- 5
St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's City, MD · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $18,441 a year
- 70% graduate
- 6
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Maryland
- Net price $18,809 a year
- 94% graduate
- 7
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- Net price $19,169 a year
- 50% graduate
- 8
McDaniel College
Westminster, MD · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Net price $21,916 a year
- 63% graduate
- 9
Goucher College
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Net price $22,470 a year
- 57% graduate
- 10
Mount St. Mary's University
Emmitsburg, MD · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- Net price $22,655 a year
- 65% graduate
- 11
Stevenson University
Owings Mills, MD · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- Net price $26,505 a year
- 68% graduate
- 12
Washington College
Chestertown, MD · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- Net price $27,898 a year
- 65% graduate
- 13
Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- Net price $30,574 a year
- 79% graduate
- 14
Maryland Institute College of Art
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 17% for graduation
- Net price $42,729 a year
- 72% graduate
- 15
St. John's College
Annapolis, MD · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $45,597 a year
- 71% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland-College Park | About $16,000 | $19,000 | $82,860 | 89% |
| University of Maryland-Baltimore County | About $16,000 | $19,500 | $69,960 | 70% |
| Towson University | About $17,000 | $18,718 | $64,390 | 69% |
| Salisbury University | About $18,000 | $21,000 | $61,515 | 68% |
| St. Mary's College of Maryland | About $18,000 | $21,000 | $60,110 | 70% |
| Johns Hopkins University | About $19,000 | $10,250 | $87,555 | 94% |
| Notre Dame of Maryland University | About $19,000 | $22,666 | $65,344 | 50% |
| McDaniel College | About $22,000 | $25,000 | $60,663 | 63% |
| 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% |
| Washington College | About $28,000 | $26,956 | $65,518 | 65% |
| Loyola University Maryland | About $31,000 | $27,000 | $82,652 | 79% |
| Maryland Institute College of Art | About $43,000 | $26,500 | $45,212 | 72% |
| St. John's College | About $46,000 | $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 63
- 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 47
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15