Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Towson University #114 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $65,610 four years after enrollment, placing Towson University in the 70.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Towson University #70 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Towson University earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 54.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Median earnings four years after enrollment of $65,610 and a strong mobility ranking combine to make Towson University a reliable path to post-graduation financial stability, particularly for students drawn to health and applied professional fields.
Azimuth ranks Towson University #114 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Towson, MD, Towson University enrolls roughly 16,136 undergraduates. Retention stands at 82.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 69.5%, figures that reflect steady degree completion across a large, broad-access student body. The composite is anchored by mobility and access. Towson University sits in the 95.3 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions and in the 85.8 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. 35.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 29.0% are first-generation college students — a sizable share of the student body that benefits from the university's broad admissions posture, with an admission rate of 82.0%. The dominant program family is Health, which shapes both the institution's workforce alignment and its post-graduation earnings profile. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite. Azimuth ranks Towson University #628 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $65,610, and graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Towson University in the 54.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 70.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a public-tuition structure that keeps net price moderate for most families. The earnings figures reflect MD's regional labor market and a student population whose post-graduation outcomes represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $35,051, even where they fall below selective-peer averages.
Towson University's published cost of attendance is $28,535, but financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $6,962; middle-income families pay about $16,784; higher-income families pay approximately $26,396. Azimuth ranks Towson University #420 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 70.6th percentile for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,718, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,489; 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 the typical graduate at the institution's median earnings four years after enrollment of $65,610, median federal debt of $18,718 projects to a monthly payment of about $211 under standard 10-year repayment. For personalized projections including Parent PLUS scenarios, see the Financial GPS tool.
Towson University is a strong fit for students drawn to health professions and related fields who want a public university experience in Maryland. Health programs represent 13% of graduates, creating clear pathways into in-demand careers in a field where Towson has built meaningful depth.
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $65,610, placing Towson in the 70.2nd percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Earnings track roughly in line with similar students at comparable institutions — Towson sits at the 54.4th percentile for earnings beyond expectations — meaning the institution delivers on its promise without dramatically outpacing peer schools.
Towson serves a broad student population: 35.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 29.0% are first-generation college students. Low-income families pay a net price of approximately $6,962, and middle-income families see costs around $16,784 — figures that make Towson a realistic option for students weighing affordability alongside 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
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Towson University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Fit depends on program alignment and budget. Students focused on health fields will find strong outcomes and a well-developed program ecosystem. Those pursuing disciplines outside Towson's areas of concentration may want to compare alternatives before committing. The 82.0% admission rate makes Towson broadly accessible — more open than most public flagships — which matters for students who need a realistic path to enrollment alongside a credible path to a career.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Towson University's published cost of attendance is $28,535, but financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $6,962; middle-income families pay about $16,784; higher-income families pay approximately $26,396. Azimuth ranks Towson University #420 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 70.6th percentile for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,718, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,489; 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 the typical graduate at the institution's median earnings four years after enrollment of $65,610, median federal debt of $18,718 projects to a monthly payment of about $211 under standard 10-year repayment. For personalized projections including Parent PLUS scenarios, see the Financial GPS tool.
Graduates of Towson University earn median earnings of $65,610 four years after enrollment, placing Towson University in the 70.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 54.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime returns relative to MD's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $35,051, the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential.
Azimuth ranks Towson University #628 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Towson University's degree output leans toward Health, which accounts for 13% of graduates, followed by Social Sciences at 10% and Education at 9%.
Business Administration combines strong enrollment with competitive pay, making it a key contributor to the institution's aggregate return profile. Among the highest-earning programs, Azimuth ranks Business Administration #68 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 481 graduates earning median earnings of $78,497 four years after enrollment — 1.1x the national benchmark for the field.
The Psychology, General program graduates 421 students with median earnings of $55,497, and Azimuth ranks Radio, Television, and Digital Communication #21 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 315 graduates earning median earnings of $42,584. Kinesiology and Nursing round out the top programs, graduating 294 and 288 students respectively, with median earnings of $58,624 and $91,044 four years after enrollment.
Computer Science
167 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
117 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
288 graduates
Physics
13 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
481 graduates
Towson University's program mix is anchored in Health, with breadth across business, education, and social science fields. Business accounts for 13% of graduates, Social Sciences accounts for 10%, and Education accounts for 9% — a distribution that reflects the university's applied-professional orientation.
The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in health and business subfields. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #87 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $104,653 from a cohort of 167.
Azimuth ranks Nursing #109 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $91,044, and Azimuth ranks Business Administration #68 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $78,497. Business Administration combines the largest cohort — 481 graduates — with median earnings of $78,497.
Several of Towson University's largest programs feed directly into high-demand local labor markets — particularly nursing, education, and allied health fields where graduates enter the workforce immediately. Programs like Kinesiology (294 graduates, $58,624 in median earnings) and Nursing (288 graduates, $91,044 in median earnings) serve students who plan to stay in the region.
The [supply-demand map for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with national hiring trends, and the [program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) explains how Azimuth evaluates programs across cohort scale, earnings, and benchmark performance.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northern Illinois University Similar quality tier (#4249 ranked) | IL | 70% | $57,808 | #4249 | Compare |
University Of Massachusetts-Boston Similar quality tier (#4250 ranked) | MA | 84% | $65,865 | #4250 | Compare |
Temple University Similar quality tier (#4247 ranked) | PA | 80% | $63,727 | #4247 | Compare |
Oregon State University Similar quality tier (#4251 ranked) | OR | 77% | $64,010 | #4251 | Compare |
Sam Houston State University Similar quality tier (#4245 ranked) | TX | 90% | $54,211 | #4245 | Compare |
