Liberal arts colleges are a great option for students seeking a well-rounded education in an intimate campus setting. The best liberal arts colleges in Maryland offer a diverse selection of degree programs with opportunities for a highly individualized educational experience.
The Old Line State has 46 colleges and universities, 30 of which are public and 16 of which are private. The United States Naval Academy offers programs in physical sciences, aeronautical engineering, and naval architecture. The largest private institution, Johns Hopkins University, has just over 24,000 students and a tuition rate of $54,000. Located in Baltimore, this research university is known for its science and medical discoveries.
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The University of Maryland in College Park boasts over 35,000 students with a price tag of $11,000. The school has 15 campuses, and students can choose from areas of study like criminal justice, communications, physics, and sociology. The most affordable school in the state, Baltimore City Community College comes in at $3,000 and has 37 associate degree programs to choose from. Maryland also provides loan forgiveness programs for its residents, including those for dentists and public servants. Students can also check out the Maryland SmartBuy Home Buyer Assistance and Forgiveness Program, where eligible applicants can receive up to 15% of the home purchase price toward outstanding student loan, to be paid off as part of closing.
Maryland is a state bursting with history, from its numerous museums to its historic battlegrounds. Students who attend school in Maryland can explore the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Park and walk the same streets as many influential Marylanders, including Francis Scott Key, Babe Ruth, Billie Holiday, and Thurgood Marshall.
Whether you’re looking to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, Maryland offers its students history, legacy, and numerous degree paths.
Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges
A liberal arts college is a school that puts a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. We’ve identified 18 liberal arts colleges in Maryland. To be ranked among the best liberal arts colleges in Maryland, schools must fully accredited institutions.
Tuition + fees
$54K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
81%
Student body
5K
Loyola University Maryland’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
34%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1052/20
University of Baltimore’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$48K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
66%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1145/25
Goucher College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$50K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
72%
Student body
1K
Washington College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
78%
Graduation
69%
Student body
8K
Salisbury University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
43%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
945/18
Bowie State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
72%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1175/25
St. Mary's College of Maryland’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$46K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
63%
Student body
2K
McDaniel College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
74%
Graduation
53%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1030/20
Frostburg State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$25K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
42%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
925/20
Washington Adventist University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$43K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
61%
Student body
2K
Hood College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
40%
Graduation
30%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
895/18
Coppin State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$38K
Acceptance
89%
Graduation
62%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1100/21
Stevenson University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
18%
Student body
35K
University of Maryland Global Campus’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$45K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
63%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1095/21
Mount St. Mary's University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$40K
Acceptance
62%
Graduation
49%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1020/21
Notre Dame of Maryland University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$36K
Acceptance
61%
Graduation
66%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1320/29
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utiulized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.