Rankings / By State
Best Education Colleges in Maryland
- 16
- Schools
- $50,896
- Avg. Earnings
- 46%
- Avg. Graduation
- $14,583
- Avg. Net Price
- $17,875
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 16 schools run from $35,823 to $64,390, a 1.8× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Carroll Community College delivers the most for the money: roughly $44,349 in median earnings against $2,725 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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Carroll Community College is the lowest-cost school here at $2,725 a year in net price.
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Towson University graduates 69% of its students, versus a 46% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Anne Arundel Community College carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.18× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 Mount St. Mary's University ($64,072 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, Towson University ($64,390), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- Carroll Community College costs $2,725 a year and Stevenson University costs $26,505. Yet their graduates earn $44,349 and $62,079, nowhere near the $23,780 price gap.
- On value, Carroll Community College beats Towson University: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
The schools that win this ranking are not the priciest or the most selective. They turn students into earners without burying them in debt, which is exactly what our outcomes-first methodology is built to surface.
What This Means for Students
If you are choosing from this list, start with Carroll Community College and Towson University. Pull each school's net price for your income band, weigh projected earnings against the debt you would take on, and let payoff rather than prestige drive your shortlist.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $55K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mount St. Mary's University #1 overall | $64,072 ▲ +26% vs avg | $22,655 | 62% | 73 |
| 2 Cecil College #2 overall | $43,952 ▼ -14% vs avg | $9,658 | 32% | 69 |
| 3 Carroll Community College #3 overall | $44,349 ▼ -13% vs avg | $2,725 | 43% | 69 |
| $44,608 ▼ -12% vs avg | $9,234 | 39% | 68 | |
| $64,390 ▲ +27% vs avg | $17,413 | 69% | 68 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Education Colleges in Maryland
This analysis ranks 16 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $50,896 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 46% and an average net price of $14,583.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Carroll Community College — Net Price: $2,725 | Graduation Rate: 43%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Towson University — 69% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Towson University — Median alumni earnings: $64,390
CollegeRanker Primary Research
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Educator Pipeline Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the educator pipeline?
$50,514
Median earnings (10yr)
41%
Median graduation rate
$15,815
Median net price
2.0%
Avg. mobility rate
Education programs feed a workforce defined by paradox: chronic teacher shortages and high social value on one side, modest pay and high attrition on the other. These are licensure-gated, mission-driven careers. The programs that matter most reliably move graduates into classrooms and keep them there.
Across the 16 schools on this list, graduates earn a median of $50,514 ten years after they first enrolled, about $2,514 more than the roughly $48,000 a typical American worker takes home. The median graduation rate is 41%. Net price, what students pay after grants, runs a median of $15,815 a year, with about $21,000 in median federal debt at graduation. An average of 32% of students receive Pell grants, and the typical school moves low-income students into the top income quintile at a rate of 2.0%.
What we’re seeing: districts compete hard for credentialed teachers, but the pay ceiling makes affordability decisive. With median earnings near $50,514 and a typical net price of $15,815, value in this field is driven as much by low cost as by salary.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Mount St. Mary's University lands at #1 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $64,072 a decade after enrolling, 26% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,655 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Cecil College lands at #2 with a 69/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (44/100). Graduates earn a median $43,952 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,658 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Carroll Community College lands at #3 with a 69/100 composite, led by value per dollar (91/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $44,349 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,725 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Harford Community College lands at #4 with a 68/100 composite, led by value per dollar (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (51/100). Graduates earn a median $44,608 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,234 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Towson University lands at #5 with a 68/100 composite, led by academic quality (73/100) and pulled down by social mobility (64/100). Graduates earn a median $64,390 a decade after enrolling, 27% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,413 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Anne Arundel Community College lands at #6 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $46,219 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,915 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
McDaniel College lands at #7 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $60,663 a decade after enrolling, 19% above this list's average, and net price runs $21,916 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Garrett College lands at #8 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (78/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $35,823 a decade after enrolling, 30% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,228 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Hood College lands at #9 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $57,089 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,873 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Salisbury University lands at #10 with a 67/100 composite, led by academic quality (70/100) and pulled down by social mobility (57/100). Graduates earn a median $61,515 a decade after enrolling, 21% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,743 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Stevenson University lands at #11 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $62,079 a decade after enrolling, 22% above this list's average, and net price runs $26,505 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Wor-Wic Community College lands at #12 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (51/100). Graduates earn a median $36,748 a decade after enrolling, 28% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,360 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Frostburg State University lands at #13 with a 63/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (66/100) and pulled down by social mobility (60/100). Graduates earn a median $55,493 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,715 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Bowie State University lands at #14 with a 61/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (64/100) and pulled down by academic quality (49/100). Graduates earn a median $54,537 a decade after enrolling, 7% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,298 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Coppin State University lands at #15 with a 59/100 composite, led by value per dollar (68/100) and pulled down by academic quality (45/100). Graduates earn a median $46,490 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,977 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Chesapeake College lands at #16 with a 54/100 composite, led by value per dollar (91/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (29/100). Graduates earn a median $36,301 a decade after enrolling, 29% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,106 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 16 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
When considering a career in education, weighing your options at colleges in Maryland can feel overwhelming. These institutions share a focus on preparing students for impactful careers in teaching and related fields. With an average earning potential of $53,248, it's clear that investing in the right program can yield significant returns.
The schools listed here are ranked based on critical outcomes like graduation rates, post-college earnings, and student debt levels. Understanding these factors can help you make an informed decision. For instance, a school with a high graduation rate and lower debt can provide a clearer path to financial stability after graduation.
Take Towson University and Carroll Community College, for example. Towson has a graduation rate of 69% and average earnings of $64,390, while Carroll Community College's graduation rate is significantly lower at 43%, with earnings of just $44,349. This contrast highlights the importance of outcomes when selecting an education program.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 11 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 2%. Mount St. Mary's University leads the group at 6.4%, with Hood College (2.8%) and Wor-Wic Community College (2.1%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 10.4% of students start in the bottom income quintile. Mount St. Mary's University leads at 21.2%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 21.9% across this list. Hood College posts the highest success rate at 43.5%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.49 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Stevenson University reaches 1.80, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Many prospective students might overlook how critical graduation rates are when weighing their options. For example, Towson University has a graduation rate of 69% and average earnings of $64,390, which is significantly better than Carroll Community College, where only 43% of students graduate, leading to lower average earnings of $44,349. This data emphasizes the importance of not just the cost of attendance but also the long-term outcomes.
As you consider these schools, think about what matters most to you. Are you prioritizing financial factors, like net price and debt? Or are you more focused on program reputation and campus culture? Each school has its unique strengths, so assess how these metrics align with your personal goals and circumstances. Finding the right program is about balance.
Ultimately, the journey from college to a stable career is shaped by the choices we make today. Students who graduate from programs with better outcomes tend to find themselves in stronger financial positions, which can lead to greater stability for their families. With thoughtful consideration, you can make a decision that aligns with both your career aspirations and financial reality.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Education Colleges in Maryland: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Education Colleges in Maryland ranking? +
Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, MD ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Education Colleges in Maryland ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $64,072 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 62% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Towson University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $64,390 ten years after enrollment, well above the $50,896 average across the 16 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Carroll Community College leads: graduates earn a median $44,349 against net price of about $2,725 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Towson University has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 69%, compared with a 46% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $14,583 a year across the 16 ranked schools with cost data. Carroll Community College is among the most affordable at roughly $2,725. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Education Colleges in Maryland ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 16 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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