Private colleges, unlike large public institutions, can be a great option for students wanting a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Here is our list of the best private colleges in Maryland.
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.
Find college admissions consultants in your state.
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.
Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.
Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.
This list is composed entirely of private colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 11 private universities in Maryland. To be included in the list below of the best private universities in Maryland, schools must be fully accredited, private, non-profit institution, and must offer a broad range of bachelor’s degrees.
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
94%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1510/34
Johns Hopkins University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$54K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
81%
Student body
5K
Loyola University Maryland’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
$46K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
63%
Student body
2K
McDaniel College’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
$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
$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.
