Most Affordable Colleges in Maryland (2026)
Updated
Most Affordable Colleges in Maryland lists 25 four-year institutions. Schools are ordered by their average net price for families earning under $30,000, lowest first, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page.
Johns Hopkins University ranks 1st on this list, with an average net price of $428 for families earning under $30,000. Across the 23 schools with a published figure, the average net price for families earning under $30,000 ranges from $428 to $42,528, with a median of $12,129.
The list includes 11 public and 14 private nonprofit schools. Coppin State University reports the lowest average net price at $9,977. Johns Hopkins University ranks 70th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years after completion | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, MD | $117,419 | $18,809 | $428 | 6.4% |
| Johns Hopkins University reports an average net price of $428 for families earning under $30,000, the lowest on this list, alongside a 94% six-year completion rate. | |||||
| 2 | St. Mary's College of Maryland · St. Mary's City, MD | $60,029 | $18,441 | $2,889 | 68.6% |
| Graduates of St. Mary's College of Maryland earn a median of $60,029 four years after completing, and the school posts an average net price of $2,889 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 3 | University of Maryland-College Park · College Park, MD | $84,365 | $15,678 | $2,962 | 44.8% |
| University of Maryland-College Park admits 45% of applicants and carries an average net price of $2,962 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 4 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County · Baltimore, MD | $74,396 | $16,467 | $5,087 | 72.4% |
| Ranking 4th on this page, University of Maryland-Baltimore County shows an average net price of $5,087 for families earning under $30,000 and a 70% six-year completion rate. | |||||
| 5 | Salisbury University · Salisbury, MD | $61,985 | $17,743 | $6,743 | 87.5% |
| Salisbury University reports median earnings of $61,985 for its graduates four years after completing, combined with an average net price of $6,743 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 6 | Towson University · Towson, MD | $65,610 | $17,413 | $6,962 | 82.0% |
| With an admission rate of 82%, Towson University lists an average net price of $6,962 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 7 | Coppin State University · Baltimore, MD | $63,359 | $9,977 | $7,714 | 45.8% |
| Coppin State University holds the lowest all-incomes average net price on the page at $9,977, and its graduates earn a median of $63,359 four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | Morgan State University · Baltimore, MD | $62,308 | $14,985 | $9,585 | 82.2% |
| Ranking 8th on this list, Morgan State University reports an average net price of $9,585 for families earning under $30,000 and a 41% six-year completion rate. | |||||
| 9 | University of Maryland Eastern Shore · Princess Anne, MD | $55,733 | $13,338 | $9,914 | 96.4% |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore admits 96% of applicants and carries an average net price of $9,914 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 10 | Mount St. Mary's University · Emmitsburg, MD | $64,424 | $22,655 | $11,603 | 73.8% |
| Graduates of Mount St. Mary's University earn a median of $64,424 four years after completing, and the school posts an average net price of $11,603 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 11 | Notre Dame of Maryland University · Baltimore, MD | $75,732 | $19,169 | $11,843 | 82.2% |
| Notre Dame of Maryland University reports an average net price of $11,843 for families earning under $30,000, alongside a 50% six-year completion rate. | |||||
| 12 | Frostburg State University · Frostburg, MD | $58,511 | $16,715 | $12,129 | 89.2% |
| Ranking 12th on this page, Frostburg State University shows an average net price of $12,129 for families earning under $30,000 and an admission rate of 89%. | |||||
| 13 | McDaniel College · Westminster, MD | $65,855 | $21,916 | $12,210 | 77.9% |
| McDaniel College reports median earnings of $65,855 for its graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $12,210 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 14 | Hood College · Frederick, MD | $70,173 | $20,873 | $12,424 | 77.8% |
| Hood College admits 78% of applicants and shows a six-year completion rate of 57%. | |||||
| 15 | Goucher College · Baltimore, MD | $57,036 | $22,470 | $13,471 | 77.7% |
| Goucher College ranks 15th on this list, with an average net price of $13,471 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 16 | Stevenson University · Owings Mills, MD | $66,853 | $26,505 | $15,894 | 78.9% |
| Graduates of Stevenson University earn a median of $66,853 four years after completing, and the school's six-year completion rate is 68%. | |||||
| 17 | Bowie State University · Bowie, MD | $65,066 | $19,298 | $17,071 | 72.4% |
| Bowie State University, a public university in Bowie, has an admission rate of 72% and an average net price of $17,071 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 18 | Washington Adventist University · Takoma Park, MD | $74,717 | $18,526 | $17,534 | 46.2% |
| Washington Adventist University reports median earnings of $74,717 for its graduates four years after completing and admits 46% of applicants. | |||||
| 19 | Washington College · Chestertown, MD | $58,768 | $27,898 | $17,804 | 56.9% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 65%, Washington College ranks 1242nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 20 | Capitol Technology University · Laurel, MD | $104,028 | $22,102 | $19,682 | 74.4% |
| Capitol Technology University posts median earnings of $104,028 for its graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 74%. | |||||
| 21 | Loyola University Maryland · Baltimore, MD | $81,772 | $30,574 | $20,549 | 75.5% |
| Loyola University Maryland has an average net price of $20,549 for families earning under $30,000 and a six-year completion rate of 79%. | |||||
| 22 | Maryland Institute College of Art · Baltimore, MD | $42,353 | $42,729 | $32,389 | 76.8% |
| Maryland Institute College of Art admits 77% of applicants, and its graduates earn a median of $42,353 four years after completing. | |||||
| 23 | St. John's College · Annapolis, MD | $45,787 | $45,597 | $42,528 | 55.2% |
| St. John's College ranks 23rd on this list, with an average net price of $42,528 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 24 | Ner Israel Rabbinical College · Pikesville, MD | $67,359 | $13,572 | Not reported | 65.7% |
| Ner Israel Rabbinical College reports median earnings of $67,359 for its graduates four years after completing and a six-year completion rate of 24%. | |||||
| 25 | University of Maryland Baltimore · Baltimore, MD | $95,457 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| University of Maryland Baltimore, a public university in Baltimore, reports median earnings of $95,457 for its graduates four years after completing. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by their average net price for families earning under $30,000, lowest first, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page. Median earnings figures reflect federally aided completers across all fields who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. The list does not adjust for who enrolls and is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 23 schools with a published figure. Johns Hopkins University posts an average net price of $428 for families earning under $30,000, while St. Mary's College of Maryland posts $2,889, a gap of $-2,461 between the top two.
Related rankings
- Best Colleges in Maryland
- Highest Paying Colleges in Maryland
- Best Colleges for Social Mobility in Maryland
- Hidden Gem Colleges in Maryland