Hood College
#5 Best Communications Colleges in Maryland- Graduation Rate
- 56% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $57,089 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $20,873 D+
- 22% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 78% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.7 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Communications Colleges in Maryland.
Every $1 spent returns $16.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,310,701.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 40% above the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 2.79% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $16.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Hood College Matters
Hood College is a private university in Frederick, MD and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,194
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Communications, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Hood College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 78% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $20,873 a year after grants and scholarships — 22% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $57,089 ten years after enrolling — 40% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 13% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.77 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
At Hood College, we find a welcoming environment for students interested in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Communications, and Education. With an acceptance rate of 78%, the college attracts a diverse group of learners who are looking for a supportive community. The enrollment of just under 1,200 students means that classes are likely to feel intimate and engaging, helping peers and professors connect more easily.
Graduates from Hood College see an average earning of $57,089 ten years after completing their degree. This figure highlights the potential for a solid career trajectory after graduation. While the graduation rate is 56%, it's worth noting that many students are able to find their footing and build rewarding careers, especially in practical fields that directly translate to the workforce. The affordability factor also plays a role, as about 37% of students receive Pell Grants, which can significantly offset education costs.
Looking at the financials, the net price after aid is approximately $20,873, and the median debt sits at $25,000. This means that while students invest in their education, many manage to keep their debt at a reasonable level. Students who thrive at Hood tend to appreciate a blend of academic rigor and community support, making it a fitting choice for those ready to engage deeply with their studies and career paths.
Rankings
- #5 Best Communications Colleges in Maryland
- #9 Best Education Colleges in Maryland
- #9 Best Biology Colleges in Maryland
- #12 Best Psychology Colleges in Maryland
- #13 Best Bachelor's Programs in Maryland
- #13 Best Master's Programs in Maryland
- #15 Best Nursing Colleges in Maryland
- #17 Best Business Colleges in Maryland
Can I Get In?
How selective Hood College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Hood College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Frederick, Maryland, Hood College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 78%
- Retention Rate
- 68%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 41%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,361
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.69
- First-Gen Students
- 31%
- Applicants
- 3,000
- Admitted
- 2,336
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hood College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hood College is $47,700, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,873. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,424 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $47,700
- Out-of-State
- $47,700
- Avg Net Price
- $20,873
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 37%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 68%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,424
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,454
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,837
- Family Income $110K+
- $29,078
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Hood College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Hood College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hood College earn a median of $57,089, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $48,415
- 8 Years
- $52,669
- 10 Years
- $57,089
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.44x
- Earning > $25K
- 71%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (145)
- 50%
- 100% (145)
- 50%
- 100% (145)
- 50%
- 100% (145)
- 50%
How Hood Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Hood College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Hood College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $20,873/year ($83,492 total). Graduates earn $57,089 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,394,193 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,310,701 (16.7× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 56% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $83,492
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,394,193
- Net Return
- $1,310,701
- ROI Multiple
- 16.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $20,873
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 56%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Hood College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Hood College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.79%, among the highest in the country. About 6.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 43.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.79%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 43.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $125,811
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,096,728
- Investment Income
- $-7,257,493
Top Programs
The fields Hood College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 19%
- Business & Marketing 14% $43,954 early-career
- Communications 10% $40,390 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 9% $41,336 early-career
- Psychology 7% $25,230 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 6% $63,937 early-career
- Education 5% $54,633 early-career
- Social Sciences 5% $29,935 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Hood College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Hood College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Frederick, Maryland, Hood College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hood College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hood College is $47,700, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,873. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,424 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is Hood College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hood College earn a median of $57,089, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Hood College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Hood College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.79%, among the highest in the country. About 6.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 43.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Hood College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Hood College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.77, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Hood College.
- Georgian Court UniversityLakewood, NJ · Close peer54% grad $53,096 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Manhattanville UniversityPurchase, NY · Close peer56% grad $58,832 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Juniata CollegeHuntingdon, PA · Close peer71% grad $56,918 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Mount Mercy UniversityCedar Rapids, IA · Close peer57% grad $60,787 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Oglethorpe UniversityAtlanta, GA · Close peer54% grad $55,232 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Goucher CollegeBaltimore, MD · Close peer59% grad $53,023 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Hood College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Hood College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.77, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note