McDaniel College
#6 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Maryland- Graduation Rate
- 64% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $60,663 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $21,916 D+
- 28% 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. 18.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.8 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Maryland.
Every $1 spent returns $18.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,561,192.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 49% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $18.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why McDaniel College Matters
McDaniel College is a private university in Westminster, MD and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. 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
- 1,617
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Psychology, Social Sciences, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose McDaniel 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 $21,916 a year after grants and scholarships — 28% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $60,663 ten years after enrolling — 49% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 43% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.78 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With 1,617 students, McDaniel College in Westminster, MD, caters to those looking for a cozy learning environment where they can form close connections. The acceptance rate of 78% suggests that we can find a welcoming community here, making it a good fit for students who may need a little extra support. Many students lean towards programs in Business & Marketing, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical, Social Sciences, and Communications, which means you’ll be among peers who share similar interests and career aspirations.
Looking at what happens after graduation, the 10-year earnings average is around $60,663. This figure indicates that many graduates find their footing in the job market and can expect decent salaries a decade after leaving. Affordability is also a key consideration, especially for students receiving Pell Grants, which make up about 36% of the student body. This suggests that there are resources and support systems in place to help students who may need financial assistance.
When it comes to the practicalities of attending McDaniel, the net price after aid stands at about $21,916, while the median debt is around $25,000. This balance suggests that students can manage their financial commitments if they plan carefully. Those who thrive here often have a strong sense of community and are motivated to engage deeply in their studies, making the most of the opportunities available to them.
Rankings
- #6 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Maryland
- #7 Best Education Colleges in Maryland
- #8 Best Business Colleges in Maryland
- #8 Best Communications Colleges in Maryland
- #9 Best Psychology Colleges in Maryland
- #10 Best Biology Colleges in Maryland
- #11 Best Bachelor's Programs in Maryland
- #11 Best Master's Programs in Maryland
Can I Get In?
How selective McDaniel 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 McDaniel College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
McDaniel College, located in Westminster, Maryland, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. The graduation rate is roughly 64%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 78%
- Retention Rate
- 76%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 25%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,473
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.64
- First-Gen Students
- 26%
- Applicants
- 4,311
- Admitted
- 3,537
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 McDaniel College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at McDaniel College is $52,081, 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 $21,916. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,210 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $52,081
- Out-of-State
- $52,081
- Avg Net Price
- $21,916
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 36%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 58%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,210
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $17,261
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,796
- Family Income $110K+
- $30,694
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 McDaniel 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 McDaniel College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of McDaniel College earn a median of $60,663, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $47,879
- 8 Years
- $50,310
- 10 Years
- $60,663
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.41x
- Earning > $25K
- 70%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (215)
- 53%
- 100% (215)
- 53%
- 100% (215)
- 53%
- 100% (215)
- 53%
How McDaniel 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 McDaniel College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, McDaniel College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $21,916/year ($87,664 total). Graduates earn $60,663 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,648,856 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,561,192 (18.8× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 64% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $87,664
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,648,856
- Net Return
- $1,561,192
- ROI Multiple
- 18.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $21,916
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 64%
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 McDaniel College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
McDaniel 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 1.59%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.9% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 41.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $108,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.59%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 41.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $146,870
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,551,000
- Investment Income
- $-10,484,000
Top Programs
The fields McDaniel 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.
- Business & Marketing 17% $66,174 early-career
- Psychology 9% $39,967 early-career
- Social Sciences 8% $72,032 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 8% $30,854 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $29,366 early-career
- Criminal Justice 6%
- Health Professions 4%
- Education 4% $73,228 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 McDaniel 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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into McDaniel College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
McDaniel College, located in Westminster, Maryland, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. The graduation rate is roughly 64%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend McDaniel College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at McDaniel College is $52,081, 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 $21,916. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,210 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is McDaniel College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of McDaniel College earn a median of $60,663, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does McDaniel College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
McDaniel 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 1.59%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.9% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 41.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $108,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is McDaniel 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 McDaniel College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.78, 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 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to McDaniel College.
- St. Mary's College of MarylandSt. Mary's City, MD · Close peer69% grad $60,110 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Hamline UniversitySaint Paul, MN · Close peer59% grad $61,106 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Daemen UniversityAmherst, NY · Close peer59% grad $61,808 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Oklahoma City UniversityOklahoma City, OK · Close peer65% grad $54,655 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Willamette UniversitySalem, OR · Close peer72% grad $56,911 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Simpson CollegeIndianola, IA · Close peer64% grad $59,274 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is McDaniel 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 McDaniel College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.78, 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 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note