Towson University
#5 Best Education Colleges in Maryland- Graduation Rate
- 69% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $64,390 A-
- Top 10% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $17,413 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 82% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 22.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $22.8 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Education Colleges in Maryland.
Every $1 spent returns $22.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,515,334.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 58% more than the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $22.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Towson University Matters
Towson University is a public university in Towson, MD and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 10% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 16,136
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Psychology
Why students choose Towson University
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
Accessible — admits about 82% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 950–1235. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,413 a year after grants and scholarships — 2% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $64,390 ten years after enrolling — 58% above the typical college, against $18,718 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.82 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 82%, Towson University is an appealing choice for many students looking for a supportive environment to further their education. It caters well to individuals interested in practical fields like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Communications, and Social Sciences. If you're seeking a school that balances accessibility with solid academic offerings, Towson stands out as a great option.
After graduation, students from Towson can expect to earn around $64,390 a year within a decade of completing their degrees. This earning potential reflects a solid return on investment, especially considering the net price of attending is about $17,413 after financial aid. While the graduation rate sits at 69%, many students find their footing and move into rewarding careers, thanks in part to the university's focus on marketable skills.
Financially, Towson is manageable for many families. With a median debt of $18,718, students often leave with a reasonable financial burden. The 36% of students receiving Pell Grants suggests a commitment to supporting those who need it most. Overall, students who thrive here tend to be proactive, engaged, and ready to take advantage of the resources available to them.
Rankings
- #5 Best Education Colleges in Maryland
- #6 Best Communications Colleges in Maryland
- #7 Best Bachelor's Programs in Maryland
- #7 Best Master's Programs in Maryland
- #11 Best Psychology Colleges in Maryland
- #12 Best Computer Science Colleges in Maryland
- #12 Best Biology Colleges in Maryland
- #12 Best Data Science Colleges in Maryland
Can I Get In?
How selective Towson University 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 Towson University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Towson, Maryland, Towson University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 82%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,095. The graduation rate is roughly 69%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Retention Rate
- 83%
- SAT Average
- 1095
- ACT Midpoint
- 24
- SAT Range
- 950–1235
- ACT Range
- 19–27
- Full-Time Faculty
- 57%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,975
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.71
- First-Gen Students
- 29%
- Applicants
- 17,770
- Admitted
- 13,967
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 Towson University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Towson University is $29,820, 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 $17,413. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,962 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,718 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $11,728
- Out-of-State
- $29,820
- Avg Net Price
- $17,413
- Median Debt
- $18,718
- Pell Grant Rate
- 36%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 42%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,962
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,590
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $16,784
- Family Income $110K+
- $26,396
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 Towson University — 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 Towson University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Towson University earn a median of $64,390, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $54,302
- 8 Years
- $59,840
- 10 Years
- $64,390
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.29x
- Earning > $25K
- 76%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,313)
- 48%
- 100% (1,313)
- 48%
- 100% (1,313)
- 48%
- 100% (1,313)
- 48%
How Towson Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Towson University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Towson University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,413/year ($69,652 total). Graduates earn $64,390 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,584,986 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,515,334 (22.8× your investment). The median debt is $18,718, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 69% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $69,652
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,584,986
- Net Return
- $1,515,334
- ROI Multiple
- 22.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,413
- Median Debt
- $18,718
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 69%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $737,758
- Investment Income
- $2,649,022
Top Programs
The fields Towson University 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 15% $65,014 early-career
- Health Professions 13% $79,590 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 13% $79,396 early-career
- Psychology 9% $36,712 early-career
- Communications 9% $47,686 early-career
- Social Sciences 8% $50,714 early-career
- Education 7% $55,834 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5% $40,390 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 Towson University'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 Towson University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Towson, Maryland, Towson University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 82%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,095. The graduation rate is roughly 69%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Towson University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Towson University is $29,820, 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 $17,413. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,962 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,718 in federal student loans.
Is Towson University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Towson University earn a median of $64,390, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Towson University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Towson University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, 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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Towson University.
- University of Massachusetts-LowellLowell, MA · Close peer67% grad $64,874 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KS · Close peer71% grad $57,262 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Rowan UniversityGlassboro, NJ · Close peer68% grad $59,988 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL · Close peer65% grad $62,117 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Montclair State UniversityMontclair, NJ · Close peer64% grad $61,415 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Nevada-RenoReno, NV · Close peer62% grad $60,614 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Towson University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Towson University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, 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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note