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.
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. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Business & Marketing 15%
- Health Professions 13%
- Computer Science & IT 13%
- Psychology 9%
- Communications 9%
- Social Sciences 8%
- Education 7%
- Visual & Performing Arts 5%
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