University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class, unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlight the best programs in Maryland.

Featured Online Programs

As of February 2022, there were 3.2 million people in the labor force, which has been on the rise for around six months except for November and December 2021 which saw slight declines. The unemployment rate also declined for six months and, as of February 2022, sat at 5%. Maryland has an average salary of $68,258 per year, which is higher than the national average of $59,540, and a mandated minimum wage of $12.50, which is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Over 80% of Maryland workers are employed in the private sector and job growth is at approximately 2%. The largest sectors in Maryland are information technology, education, and manufacturing.

When you consider all of this together, along with the proximity to Washington, D.C. and Virginia’s busy economy, students who graduate from higher education in the state of Maryland are guaranteed to have excellent opportunities within reach.


Search Programs

Online Higher Education in Maryland


  • How much is college tuition in Maryland?

    For the 2020-2021 academic year, tuition for in-state Maryland students was around $6,600 and out-of-state students were charged closer to $14,000 for tuition. Graduate students paid around $11,600 for in-state tuition, and out-of-state graduate students paid around $18,200.

    For students who opted to live on campus, the cost for room and board for all students was around $15,200. The college with the highest undergraduate tuition in the state is John Hopkins University at $58,720, and the least expensive college tuition in Maryland was at Maple Springs Baptist Bible College and Seminary with a cost of $5,400. For graduate school, Johns Hopkins again tops the chart with the highest tuition at $61,202 and Maple Springs is also the least expensive at $5,706.

    Find Your Online Maryland Program

  • How many students are enrolled at colleges and universities in Maryland?
    As of the 2020-2021 academic school year, there were 357,442 Maryland students attending colleges. The vast majority (284,774) are undergraduate students, with the remaining 72,668 students being enrolled in graduate programs. Full-time students make up the majority of student attendance at 185,885, and female students outnumber male students with 202,676 females attending and 154,766 males.
  • How many students attend online classes?
    For the 2020-2021 academic year, 220,656 students in Maryland attended classes exclusively online and another 77,277 attended both on-campus classes and online courses.
  • What are some of the most popular degrees to get online?
    Some of the more popular programs include those in Accounting, Business, Criminal Justice, Education, and Information Technology.

Our School Rankings Methodology


We use a particular set of criteria when creating our rankings. Some of the factors we consider include the following.

  • Admission Rate:
    This is the rate which shows how challenging being admitted might be. High admission rates mean it’s easier to be accepted, while a lower rate means the school is more selective of its students.
  • Graduation Rate:
    We check the length of time students need to complete programs and whether that timeframe is within the standard four to six years for an undergraduate degree.
  • Net Price:
    This is the total amount a student or their family will have to pay for their education. This amount is the balance of tuition and fees after grants, scholarships, and work study credits have been applied.
  • Online Availability:
    This shows how many courses and programs can be completed online.
  • Retention Rate:
    This is the percentage of students who return after their first year of classes.
  • Student-to-Faculty Ratio:
    The smaller the ratio, the smaller the classes, and the greater chance for instructor interaction. Some students prefer smaller classes, while other students prefer larger ones, and a higher student -to-faculty ratio indicates which you’re likely to find at any particular school.


Top 10 Best Online Associate & Community Colleges in Maryland


1

Carroll Community College

Score: 87.64

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $7,188
    • Out-of-State:$9,618
  • Net Price: $6,019
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 67%
  • Graduation Rate: 42%
  • Total Enrollment: 2,891
  • Undergrad Students: 2,891
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $36,900
  • Student-to-faculty: 14:1
  • Carroll Community College
2
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $9,080
    • Out-of-State:$12,050
  • Net Price: $9,943
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 63%
  • Graduation Rate: 35%
  • Total Enrollment: 2,578
  • Undergrad Students: 2,578
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $37,200
  • Student-to-faculty: 11:1
  • Allegany College of Maryland
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
3

College of Southern Maryland

Score: 78.98

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $7,350
    • Out-of-State:$9,450
  • Net Price: $7,031
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 66%
  • Graduation Rate: 32%
  • Total Enrollment: 4,868
  • Undergrad Students: 4,868
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $38,100
  • Student-to-faculty: 16:1
  • College of Southern Maryland
4
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $7,474
    • Out-of-State:$10,880
  • Net Price: $6,850
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 52%
  • Graduation Rate: 16%
  • Total Enrollment: 15,319
  • Undergrad Students: 15,319
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $46,100
  • Student-to-faculty: 14:1
  • Community College of Baltimore County
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
5

Garrett College

Score: 75.42

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $9,352
    • Out-of-State:$11,368
  • Net Price: $5,668
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 55%
  • Graduation Rate: 32%
  • Total Enrollment: 579
  • Undergrad Students: 579
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $28,700
  • Student-to-faculty: 12:1
  • Garrett College
6

Harford Community College

Score: 74.97

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $6,302
    • Out-of-State:$8,630
  • Net Price: $8,278
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 70%
  • Graduation Rate: 29%
  • Total Enrollment: 4,591
  • Undergrad Students: 4,591
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $36,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 15:1
  • Harford Community College
7

Cecil College

Score: 74.68

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $8,760
    • Out-of-State:$9,960
  • Net Price: $9,996
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 69%
  • Graduation Rate: 28%
  • Total Enrollment: 1,823
  • Undergrad Students: 1,823
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $36,200
  • Student-to-faculty: 12:1
  • Cecil College
8

Chesapeake College

Score: 72.24

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $6,344
    • Out-of-State:$8,504
  • Net Price: $5,423
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 61%
  • Graduation Rate: 28%
  • Total Enrollment: 1,794
  • Undergrad Students: 1,794
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $29,800
  • Student-to-faculty: 15:1
  • Chesapeake College
9

Baltimore City Community College

Score: 69.33

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $3,314
    • Out-of-State:$7,394
  • Net Price: $7,051
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 55%
  • Graduation Rate: 10%
  • Total Enrollment: 3,538
  • Undergrad Students: 3,538
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $39,300
  • Student-to-faculty: 12:1
  • Baltimore City Community College
10

Anne Arundel Community College

Score: 65.21

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $8,186
    • Out-of-State:$11,330
  • Net Price: $14,256
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 70%
  • Graduation Rate: 27%
  • Total Enrollment: 10,192
  • Undergrad Students: 10,192
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $38,200
  • Student-to-faculty: 16:1
  • Anne Arundel Community College

Top 15 Best Online Colleges in Maryland


1
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $63,340
    • Out-of-State:$63,340
  • Net Price: $24,034
  • Acceptance Rate: 7%
  • Retention Rate: 97%
  • Graduation Rate: 94%
  • Total Enrollment: 31,275
  • Undergrad Students: 6,044
  • Graduate Students: 25,231
  • Grads Salary: $94,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 6:1
  • Johns Hopkins University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
2
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $11,505
    • Out-of-State:$40,306
  • Net Price: $16,210
  • Acceptance Rate: 45%
  • Retention Rate: 95%
  • Graduation Rate: 89%
  • Total Enrollment: 40,792
  • Undergrad Students: 30,353
  • Graduate Students: 10,439
  • Grads Salary: $83,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 18:1
  • University of Maryland
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
3

Washington Adventist University

Score: 77.53

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $25,200
    • Out-of-State:$25,200
  • Net Price: $17,088
  • Acceptance Rate: 51%
  • Retention Rate: 86%
  • Graduation Rate: 50%
  • Total Enrollment: 671
  • Undergrad Students: 582
  • Graduate Students: 89
  • Grads Salary: $108,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 6:1
  • Washington Adventist University
4
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $27,318
    • Out-of-State:$27,318
  • Net Price: $25,445
  • Acceptance Rate: 64%
  • Retention Rate: 73%
  • Graduation Rate: 55%
  • Total Enrollment: 823
  • Undergrad Students: 301
  • Graduate Students: 522
  • Grads Salary: $114,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 9:1
  • Capitol Technology University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
5
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $12,952
    • Out-of-State:$30,308
  • Net Price: $17,692
  • Acceptance Rate: 81%
  • Retention Rate: 86%
  • Graduation Rate: 70%
  • Total Enrollment: 13,991
  • Undergrad Students: 10,625
  • Graduate Students: 3,366
  • Grads Salary: $82,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 18:1
  • University of Maryland-Baltimore County
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
6

Notre Dame of Maryland University

Score: 69.51

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $41,910
    • Out-of-State:$41,910
  • Net Price: $22,675
  • Acceptance Rate: 70%
  • Retention Rate: 62%
  • Graduation Rate: 60%
  • Total Enrollment: 1,733
  • Undergrad Students: 660
  • Graduate Students: 1,073
  • Grads Salary: $98,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 8:1
  • Notre Dame of Maryland University
7

Towson University

Score: 67.91

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $11,306
    • Out-of-State:$28,326
  • Net Price: $14,443
  • Acceptance Rate: 79%
  • Retention Rate: 82%
  • Graduation Rate: 70%
  • Total Enrollment: 19,793
  • Undergrad Students: 16,861
  • Graduate Students: 2,932
  • Grads Salary: $70,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 15:1
  • Towson University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
8
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $10,638
    • Out-of-State:$21,332
  • Net Price: $19,756
  • Acceptance Rate: 91%
  • Retention Rate: 76%
  • Graduation Rate: 69%
  • Total Enrollment: 7,123
  • Undergrad Students: 6,378
  • Graduate Students: 745
  • Grads Salary: $70,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • Salisbury University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
9
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $8,118
    • Out-of-State:$18,800
  • Net Price: $13,956
  • Acceptance Rate: 85%
  • Retention Rate: 74%
  • Graduation Rate: 46%
  • Total Enrollment: 9,101
  • Undergrad Students: 7,609
  • Graduate Students: 1,492
  • Grads Salary: $78,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 17:1
  • Morgan State University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
10
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $55,480
    • Out-of-State:$55,480
  • Net Price: $33,312
  • Acceptance Rate: 83%
  • Retention Rate: 85%
  • Graduation Rate: 79%
  • Total Enrollment: 5,238
  • Undergrad Students: 3,977
  • Graduate Students: 1,261
  • Grads Salary: $76,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • Loyola University Maryland
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
11
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $8,898
    • Out-of-State:$19,728
  • Net Price: $12,020
  • Acceptance Rate: 82%
  • Retention Rate: 71%
  • Graduation Rate: 37%
  • Total Enrollment: 2,518
  • Undergrad Students: 1,933
  • Graduate Students: 585
  • Grads Salary: $73,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 11:1
  • University of Maryland Eastern Shore
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
12
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $9,998
    • Out-of-State:$25,180
  • Net Price: $16,114
  • Acceptance Rate: 88%
  • Retention Rate: 72%
  • Graduation Rate: 49%
  • Total Enrollment: 4,067
  • Undergrad Students: 3,263
  • Graduate Students: 804
  • Grads Salary: $72,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 12:1
  • Frostburg State University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
13

Hood College

Score: 60

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $45,870
    • Out-of-State:$45,870
  • Net Price: $23,624
  • Acceptance Rate: 78%
  • Retention Rate: 73%
  • Graduation Rate: 61%
  • Total Enrollment: 2,056
  • Undergrad Students: 1,202
  • Graduate Students: 854
  • Grads Salary: $71,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 11:1
  • Hood College
14
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $39,708
    • Out-of-State:$39,708
  • Net Price: $27,600
  • Acceptance Rate: 84%
  • Retention Rate: 77%
  • Graduation Rate: 65%
  • Total Enrollment: 3,483
  • Undergrad Students: 2,985
  • Graduate Students: 498
  • Grads Salary: $73,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 15:1
  • Stevenson University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
15
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $7,001
    • Out-of-State:$13,789
  • Net Price: $8,562
  • Acceptance Rate: 45%
  • Retention Rate: 62%
  • Graduation Rate: 24%
  • Total Enrollment: 2,006
  • Undergrad Students: 1,757
  • Graduate Students: 249
  • Grads Salary: $67,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 10:1
  • Coppin State University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings

Search All Programs