15 Best Value Colleges And Universities In Maryland

Many students join the military to finance their education when they return home; what if you could do it the other way around? At the United States Naval Academy, students' tuition is waived for a federal service education, where they are commissioned to become officers for the Navy or Marine Corps upon graduation. But the USNA isn't just another cheap Maryland college; not only does the school have a cutthroat 8% acceptance rate, students must receive a nomination from a Congressman to even apply in the first place! The competitive atmosphere only intensifies upon arrival, with mandatory athletics and military leadership comprising a large part of students' total grade.
Net Price: $0/yr
Score: 166.2

As the largest school—public or private—in the state, the University of Maryland College Park is Maryland's true flagship institution. UMCP avails itself of this status with a wealth of resources, including a $1.9 billion annual operating budget that covers everything from the 90 undergraduate degree programs to hundreds of millions of dollars in advanced research funding for dozens of cutting-edge departments. But money alone doesn't make UMCP one of the best universities in Maryland; it's also ranked among the top 20 public research universities according to U.S. News and boasts 3 Nobel Laureates and 5 Pulitzer winners among its faculty.
Net Price: $14,833/yr
Score: 162.40

Founded in 1876 with a $7 million bequest from its namesake (the late philanthropist Johns Hopkins himself), this Maryland university was the first research university in the nation - and it has continued to set the bar for higher education for generations. Arguably the top college in Maryland, JHU is best known for its groundbreaking engineering and medical programs and has been affiliated with 36 Nobel Laureates over its lifespan. So it's no surprise that JHU skims only the cream of the crop with a slim 16% acceptance rate. And while the price of tuition may be higher than most schools on our list, the nearly $600K you can expect to make your first two decades after graduating makes it oh so worth it.
Net Price: $25,207/yr
Score: 161.80

This Maryland university is one of the largest public universities in Maryland and features all the student amenities and resources that come with the territory. Students can choose from over a hundred degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences, as well as applied professional programs. That sounds kind of typical until you realize Towson also features one of just a handful of gerontology programs—and the only e-Business degree—among public universities in the country. Towson is also known for producing more teachers than any other school in any state, and yields a whopping $343K average return on investment over 20 years, according to Pay Scale.
Net Price: $13,859/yr
Score: 133.2

From U.S. News and Washington Monthly to Money Magazine and Kiplingers Personal Finance, this Maryland university has been making it onto lists of the "best deals" in higher education for years. The tuition is low enough, but that alone fails to capture what makes Salisbury such a great opportunity. Offering 42 undergraduate degree programs in education, science and technology, business, and liberal arts, there's a huge breadth of learning available at Salisbury for its stellar price point. Above all, Salisbury understands that what makes students worthwhile is not their grades or test scores, but their attitude towards achievement.
Net Price: $16,683/yr
Score: 128.5

For the last six years, this Maryland university has ranked first on U.S. News' list of top up-and-coming colleges in the country. What does this mean? First and foremost, it's an indication that you should take advantage of the opportunity to apply to such a prestigious research university while it still accepts nearly 60% of applicants. But in more general terms, this ranking refers to the 50 undergraduate majors offered, the school's enviable proximity to both DC and Baltimore, its 19 Division I athletics teams competing in the American East Conference, and an expected $450K 20-year return on investment. But that's just our guess.
Net Price: $14,137/yr
Score: 121.6

As the only women's college in Maryland, you could say that Notre Dame of Maryland University really puts the "dame" in "Notre Dame." But all jokes aside, NDMU has a rich tradition of inculcating women of faith into higher education and service. In addition to being the first Catholic college in the U.S. to offer women a four-year baccalaureate degree, NDMU has contributed 34 alumni to The Daily Record's list of Maryland's Top 100 Women. Considering the experiences and education offered at this affordable Maryland college - as well its unparalleled commitment to service - it's no wonder NDMU produces such successful graduates.
Net Price: $18,370/yr
Score: 117.6

Over the last 500 years, Jesuits have built a tradition within the Catholic Church founded on scholarship, education, and cultural cultivation. This tradition is alive and well at this Maryland university. One of the top universities in Maryland, LUM features a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio; 40 academic fields for undergraduate study; and study abroad programs in countries like Spain, New Zealand, Australia, and Thailand. Like the Jesuits before them, LUM's recipe for success is self-evident, from their nationally dominant lacrosse team to their nearly 90% graduation rate and $550K 20-year ROI.
Net Price: $33,346/yr
Score: 112

Put bluntly, education is the number one priority at this Maryland university. And it should be! On one hand, this means that Coppin is a great choice for future educators who can't wait to get a degree to start making a difference in young people's lives. In fact, Coppin is the only higher education institution in Maryland to manage a public school since taking over Rosemont Elementary School in 1998. This gives future teachers and education administrators alike a unique opportunity for experiential learning. But Coppin's emphasis on education doesn't end there; it also extends to the rest of their undergraduate programs, from liberal arts to the health sciences.
Net Price: $9,407/yr
Score: 106.2

Outside of Frostburg State University, where else can you find concentrations and degrees in Adventure Sports and Ethnobotany? Considering that their latter program is only the second in the country, your chances are pretty slim. And Frostburg isn't light on hard subjects, either; in fact, the existence of such unique degrees at a top Maryland college like Frostburg just shows how incredibly serious they are about experiential learning and sustainability - two pillars of their mission as a university. As a charter member of American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), Frostburg galvanizes students, faculty, and the community to take the carbon-neutral future of the nation into their own hands.
Net Price: $12,952/yr
Score: 102.5