Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Hood College #659 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,596 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 80.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Hood College #342 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Hood College #659 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Frederick, Maryland, Hood College enrolls roughly 1,194 undergraduates. Retention stands at 68.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 56.9%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts–focused institution. Hood College performs strongest in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Hood College #342 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $70,173, and earn about $6,596 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Hood College in the 80.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's strength in Business and related fields that lead directly into stable, well-paying careers. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Hood College sits in the 34.5 percentile for access and the 46.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 37.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.1% are first-generation college students, reflecting a more selective enrollment profile typical of independent master's institutions. For families who qualify for need-based aid, Hood College commits to meeting demonstrated financial need, though the sticker price and net cost structure position the institution above the median for comparable private colleges.
Hood College's published cost of attendance is $61,219. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $12,424, middle-income families pay around $19,837, and higher-income families pay approximately $29,078. Azimuth ranks Hood College #770 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The variation across income bands reflects Hood's need-based aid structure, though the spread between lowest and highest income groups is moderate relative to institutions with larger endowments. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,522; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $70,173, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on Hood's lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $50,093 would narrow the monthly slack considerably — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Hood College is a strong fit for students seeking a private nonprofit college experience in Frederick, MD with a focus on business and related applied fields. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $70,173, placing Hood College in the 72.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $6,596 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 80.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations. The college serves a mix of students — 37.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.1% are first-generation — with completion rates that track typical patterns for nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $29,078 for higher-income families. Fit depends on interest alignment with Business and similar applied fields, which represent 19% of degree output. Students drawn to these areas will find the strongest outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
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This is the Hood College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
18 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
41 graduates
Psychology, General
19 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
14 graduates
Biology, General
22 graduates
Hood College's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a private liberal arts college with applied career focus. Business Administration is the largest program with 41 graduates, followed by Biology, General, Psychology, General, Nursing, and Criminal Justice.
Across 18 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering strong four-year earnings outcomes. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied business and professional pathways.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $92,955 four years after enrollment across 18 graduates, followed by Business Administration with $78,503 and Psychology, General with $65,110. Criminal Justice and Biology, General round out the highest-earning programs.
This concentration in business-adjacent and professional fields aligns with Hood College's positioning as a career-oriented institution in the Frederick, Maryland region. The program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter stable professional roles immediately after completion.
Business, accounting, and management-related fields dominate the degree output and correspond to the institution's strongest earnings outcomes. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these applied professional fields align with regional and national labor-market demand.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Hood College's published cost of attendance is $61,219. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $12,424, middle-income families pay around $19,837, and higher-income families pay approximately $29,078.
Azimuth ranks Hood College #770 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The variation across income bands reflects Hood's need-based aid structure, though the spread between lowest and highest income groups is moderate relative to institutions with larger endowments.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,522; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $70,173, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment.
In a downside earnings scenario anchored on Hood's lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $50,093 would narrow the monthly slack considerably — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Hood College earn median 4-year earnings of $70,173, placing Hood College in the 72.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,596 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Hood College in the 80.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Hood College #342 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Hood's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 41 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $78,503, performing at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. The Biology, General program graduates 22 students earning $53,886, while Psychology, General and Nursing round out the top programs with 19 and 18 graduates respectively.
These programs anchor Hood's return story, with Business representing the institution's primary academic focus and driving consistent outcomes across the graduate cohort.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Barnard College Similar quality tier (#16363 ranked) | NY | 9% | $80,516 | #16363 | Compare |
Abilene Christian University Similar quality tier (#15848 ranked) | TX | 100% | $55,736 | #15848 | Compare |
Russell Sage College Similar quality tier (#15844 ranked) | NY | 53% | $58,316 | #15844 | Compare |
Webster University Similar quality tier (#16895 ranked) | MO | 86% | $50,876 | #16895 | Compare |
Illinois Wesleyan University Similar quality tier (#15831 ranked) | IL | 39% | $70,871 | #15831 | Compare |
