Maryland isn't one of our biggest states, but it is one of our most diverse: "America in Miniature," as Maryland is sometimes known.
It was a border state in the Civil War and in many ways, it remains a crossroads of American economy and culture. Maryland is part of the beautiful Chesapeake Bay region, home to renowned natural beauty. It's also one of the most densely populated states in the country, with roughly six million residents who call it home. Maryland boasts the highest median household income of any state, thanks to a highly diversified economy that ranges from manufacturing to agriculture to biotechnology.
The variety in Maryland's economy is due in part to the state's colleges and universities, which represent a key factor in Maryland's continuing growth and success. The highly-ranked University System of Maryland (USM) includes twelve higher education institutions and supports nearly 165,000 students across the state. The faculty of USM universities garner almost $1.3 billion every year in research grants and contracts, representing an important cornerstone of the state's economic development.
The Maryland institutions outside of USM are no less prestigious: they include some of the most highly ranked research universities in the nation, such as the United States Naval Academy and Johns Hopkins University.
Whether prospective college students are seeking a large, nationally ranked university in a major metropolitan area, the community atmosphere of a small, rural college, or anything in between, Maryland has no shortage of great options for higher education. We've also ranked the Top Online Schools in Maryland as well.
Accredited Online College Programs
Explore our featured online programs and find the right match for you today.
What are the best colleges in Maryland?
Our methodology for the following ranking is based on two main factors: institutional excellence and return on investment for students. We measure institutional excellence through data points including student-to-faculty ratio, the test scores of incoming students, endowment size, graduation rate, and more. For the return on investment evaluation, we consider the amount of financial aid available, average tuition costs, student indebtedness after graduation, and expected early career salary for graduates. We pull information from PayScale, the National Center for Education Statistics' IPEDS database, individual college websites, and U.S. News & World Report to compile an accurate, comprehensive ranking of higher education institutions.
Top 10 Best Colleges in Maryland
See our rankings methodology page.
