Best colleges in Maryland

Think Big in This Small State

There’s plenty of room for you in Maryland

As one of the smaller states in the country, Maryland is also one of the most populated. Nicknamed “Little America”, its long history makes the state a hub of renowned, historical colleges and universities. Public and private campuses in Baltimore, College Park, Towson, Annapolis and across the state make up 55 colleges in total, including some of the oldest schools in the country and one of the most prominent military academies in the U.S.* Maryland not only nabbed a top spot as one of the “greenest states” in the country but also one of the wealthiest.* With bustling city centers in Baltimore and the Washington, D.C. areas, Maryland also has the lowest poverty rate, 7.8%, in the country, and an unemployment rate close to the national average.*

Maryland’s close proximity to Washington D.C. makes it a major hub for government and military opportunities, including technical and admin positions, defense and aerospace industries and bio-research firms. However, it also gives you close access to all the historical, and mostly free, attractions in our nation’s capital. If history isn’t your thing, touch into your outdoorsy side with a hike at Oregon Ridge Park or spend some time at the beach at Calvert Cliffs State Park. Or continue learning at the National Aquarium in Baltimore or the Maryland Science Center. And when you feel like being loud, go cheer on the 2013 Superbowl Champions, the Baltimore Ravens. Join the other 5.9 million Marylanders and see what’s so great about Little America.

Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the US*Bureau of Labor Statistics *Wikipedia, “Maryland”, “List of colleges and universities in Maryland” *www.proximityone.com/stmhi0910.htm *www.forbes.com

Best Four Year Universities in Maryland

Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins University offers 426 degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 10,685 students graduated with students earning 7,473 Master's degrees, 1,431 Bachelor's degrees, 935 Certificates, and 846 Doctoral degrees.

The University of Maryland is a public university founded in 1856 and is the largest university in the state with over 40,000 students. Located in suburban College Park just south of downtown Baltimore, Maryland, this school has over 120 departments and 112 different graduate programs with an emphasis on research activity and community-based learning. The University of Maryland is known for its red-brick Georgian campus architecture and the iconic McKeldin Mall reflection pool.

The University of Maryland has a range of reputable academic programs in fields such as public policy, engineering, and business, and Maryland residents receive in-state tuition at a much lower rate than applicants from out-of-state. On-campus, the University of Maryland Office of Sustainability operates The Chesapeake Project, a program that encourages the integration of sustainability education into existing curriculums across disciplines. This project has led University of Maryland students to participate in environmentally-conscious competitions such as the Solar Decathlon and to inform the university’s Climate Action Plan. 

Outside of academics, the University of Maryland athletic teams, represented by their campus mascot Testudo the Terrapin, compete in the ACC with an annual football rivalry with the University of Virginia at XFINITY Center. Notable alumni include former Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove, U.S. Men’s National Team keeper Zack Steffen, and comedian Larry David.

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United States Naval Academy offers 31 degree programs. It's a small, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 1,114 students graduated with students earning 1,114 Bachelor's degrees.

St. John's College
Annapolis, MD

St. John's College offers 3 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 138 students graduated with students earning 105 Bachelor's degrees, 31 Master's degrees, and 2 Certificates.

Washington College
Chestertown, MD

Washington College offers 31 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2022, 243 students graduated with students earning 243 Bachelor's degrees.

Loyola University Maryland offers 88 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 1,487 students graduated with students earning 886 Bachelor's degrees, 585 Master's degrees, 15 Doctoral degrees, and 1 Certificate.

University of Maryland-Baltimore County offers 175 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 3,556 students graduated with students earning 2,561 Bachelor's degrees, 685 Master's degrees, 207 Certificates, and 103 Doctoral degrees.

St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's City, MD

St. Mary's College of Maryland offers 30 degree programs. It's a small, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2022, 381 students graduated with students earning 357 Bachelor's degrees, and 24 Master's degrees.

Towson University
Towson, MD

Towson University offers 164 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 5,724 students graduated with students earning 4,514 Bachelor's degrees, 900 Master's degrees, 253 Certificates, and 57 Doctoral degrees.

Maryland Institute College of Art offers 48 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 728 students graduated with students earning 366 Bachelor's degrees, and 362 Master's degrees.

Best Community Colleges in Maryland

Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia offers 8 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a midsize city. In 2022, 443 students graduated with students earning 420 Certificates, and 23 Associate's degrees.

Allegany College of Maryland offers 60 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a small city. In 2022, 500 students graduated with students earning 420 Associate's degrees, and 80 Certificates.

Montgomery College
Rockville, MD

Montgomery College offers 164 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a small city. In 2022, 2,769 students graduated with students earning 2,738 Associate's degrees, and 31 Certificates.

Fortis College-Landover offers 6 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 304 students graduated with students earning 260 Certificates, and 44 Associate's degrees.

Hagerstown Community College offers 66 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a midsize suburb. In 2022, 622 students graduated with students earning 578 Associate's degrees, and 44 Certificates.

College of Southern Maryland offers 77 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a outlying rural area. In 2022, 1,385 students graduated with students earning 873 Associate's degrees, and 512 Certificates.

Prince George's Community College offers 81 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 1,408 students graduated with students earning 1,349 Associate's degrees, and 59 Certificates.

Harford Community College offers 65 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a outlying rural area. In 2022, 865 students graduated with students earning 851 Associate's degrees, and 14 Certificates.

Carroll Community College
Westminster, MD

Carroll Community College offers 48 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a outlying rural area. In 2022, 524 students graduated with students earning 476 Associate's degrees, and 48 Certificates.

Anne Arundel Community College offers 130 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 1,704 students graduated with students earning 1,502 Associate's degrees, and 202 Certificates.

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List of all colleges in Maryland

School Average Tuition Student Teacher Ratio Enrolled Students
Johns Hopkins University Logo Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD
5/5
22 : 1 31,275
University of Maryland-College Park Logo University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD
3/5
22 : 1 40,792
United States Naval Academy Logo United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD   14 : 1 4,450
St. John's College Logo St. John's College Annapolis, MD
5/5
11 : 1 541
Washington College Logo Washington College Chestertown, MD
5/5
10 : 1 955