Most selective colleges in Maryland
Colleges that admit the smallest share of applicants.
Most selective colleges in Maryland16 schools
16 schools qualify, ranked by admission rate.
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 an admission rate from federal data (College Scorecard). Average SAT scores are shown where the college reports them.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by admission rate, lowest first. Selectivity measures demand for places, not the quality of teaching.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Maryland
- Admits 6%
- Average SAT 1553
- 2
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Admits 9%
- Average SAT 1307
- 3
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD · PublicHonor RollTop 5% for graduation
- Admits 45%
- Average SAT 1473
- 4
St. John's College
Annapolis, MD · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Admits 55%
- Average SAT 1372
- 5
- 6
St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's City, MD · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Admits 69%
- Average SAT 1261
- 7
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD · PublicTop 15% for earnings
- Admits 72%
- Average SAT 1323
- 8
Mount St. Mary's University
Emmitsburg, MD · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- Admits 74%
- Average SAT 1176
- 9
Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- Admits 75%
- Average SAT 1290
- 10
Maryland Institute College of Art
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 17% for graduation
- Admits 77%
- Average SAT 1258
- 11
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- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
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% |
| United States Naval Academy | — | — | — | 93% |
| University of Maryland-College Park | $15,678 | $19,000 | $82,860 | 89% |
| St. John's College | $45,597 | $27,000 | $51,584 | 71% |
| Washington College | $27,898 | $26,956 | $65,518 | 65% |
| St. Mary's College of Maryland | $18,441 | $21,000 | $60,110 | 70% |
| University of Maryland-Baltimore County | $16,467 | $19,500 | $69,960 | 70% |
| Mount St. Mary's University | $22,655 | $25,391 | $64,072 | 65% |
| Loyola University Maryland | $30,574 | $27,000 | $82,652 | 79% |
| Maryland Institute College of Art | $42,729 | $26,500 | $45,212 | 72% |
| Goucher College | $22,470 | $26,000 | $53,023 | 57% |
| McDaniel College | $21,916 | $25,000 | $60,663 | 63% |
| Stevenson University | $26,505 | $26,000 | $62,079 | 68% |
| Towson University | $17,413 | $18,718 | $64,390 | 69% |
| Notre Dame of Maryland University | $19,169 | $22,666 | $65,344 | 50% |
| Salisbury University | $17,743 | $21,000 | $61,515 | 68% |
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 57
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 20
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 22
- Washington 12
- Wisconsin 15