# Best Master's Programs in Maryland

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 27 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-masters-maryland

## Methodology

Master's programs in Maryland ranked by graduate outcomes

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Choosing a master's program is a significant decision that can shape your career and financial future. For those considering options in Maryland, the 26 schools on this list stand out for their graduate outcomes. On average, graduates from these programs earn $62,722, which reflects the potential return on investment for students.

The strongest programs in this ranking excel in key areas such as earnings potential, graduation rates, and manageable debt levels. For example, earnings for graduates range from $60,110 at St. Mary's College of Maryland to $87,555 at Johns Hopkins University. This information is crucial for students weighing their options, as it highlights the trade-offs between program cost and financial outcomes.

Take Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland-College Park as examples. While Johns Hopkins boasts a high earning potential of $87,555 and a graduation rate of 94%, the University of Maryland-College Park offers a slightly lower earning potential at $82,860 with a still-impressive 89% graduation rate. These differences matter as students consider not only how much they might earn after graduation but also the likelihood of completing their degree.

## Key Findings

- Johns Hopkins University graduates earn $87,555 on average, the highest in this ranking.
- The graduation rate at Johns Hopkins is 94%, compared to 89% at the University of Maryland-College Park.
- St. Mary's College of Maryland has a net price of $18,441, one of the higher costs among the top schools.
- Graduates from Towson University have a debt of $18,718, which is manageable compared to some peers.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Johns Hopkins University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/johns-hopkins-university) | Baltimore, MD | 94% | $87,555 | $18,809 | $10,250 | 0.12x |
| 2 | [University of Maryland-College Park](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-maryland-college-park) | College Park, MD | 89% | $82,860 | $15,678 | $19,000 | 0.23x |
| 3 | [Loyola University Maryland](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/loyola-university-maryland) | Baltimore, MD | 80% | $82,652 | $30,574 | $27,000 | 0.33x |
| 4 | [Mount St. Mary's University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mount-st-marys-university) | Emmitsburg, MD | 62% | $64,072 | $22,655 | $25,391 | 0.4x |
| 5 | [University of Maryland-Baltimore County](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-maryland-baltimore-county) | Baltimore, MD | 70% | $69,960 | $16,467 | $19,500 | 0.28x |
| 6 | [Washington College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/washington-college) | Chestertown, MD | 70% | $65,518 | $27,898 | $26,956 | 0.41x |
| 7 | [Towson University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/towson-university) | Towson, MD | 69% | $64,390 | $17,413 | $18,718 | 0.29x |
| 8 | [Notre Dame of Maryland University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/notre-dame-of-maryland-university) | Baltimore, MD | 51% | $65,344 | $19,169 | $22,666 | 0.35x |
| 9 | [Goucher College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/goucher-college) | Baltimore, MD | 59% | $53,023 | $22,470 | $26,000 | 0.49x |
| 10 | [St. Mary's College of Maryland](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/st-marys-college-of-maryland) | St. Mary's City, MD | 69% | $60,110 | $18,441 | $21,000 | 0.35x |
| 11 | [McDaniel College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mcdaniel-college) | Westminster, MD | 64% | $60,663 | $21,916 | $25,000 | 0.41x |
| 12 | [Salisbury University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/salisbury-university) | Salisbury, MD | 68% | $61,515 | $17,743 | $21,000 | 0.34x |
| 13 | [Hood College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hood-college) | Frederick, MD | 56% | $57,089 | $20,873 | $25,000 | 0.44x |
| 14 | [Stevenson University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/stevenson-university) | Owings Mills, MD | 67% | $62,079 | $26,505 | $26,000 | 0.42x |
| 15 | [Capitol Technology University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/capitol-technology-university) | Laurel, MD | 44% | $85,035 | $22,102 | $20,264 | 0.24x |
| 16 | [Washington Adventist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/washington-adventist-university) | Takoma Park, MD | 33% | $64,249 | $18,526 | $30,500 | 0.47x |
| 17 | [Frostburg State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/frostburg-state-university) | Frostburg, MD | 51% | $55,493 | $16,715 | $21,105 | 0.38x |
| 18 | [University of Baltimore](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-baltimore) | Baltimore, MD | 43% | $61,335 | $13,868 | $23,250 | 0.38x |
| 19 | [Maryland Institute College of Art](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/maryland-institute-college-of-art) | Baltimore, MD | 72% | $45,212 | $42,729 | $26,500 | 0.59x |
| 20 | [Morgan State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/morgan-state-university) | Baltimore, MD | 41% | $50,698 | $14,985 | $27,250 | 0.54x |
| 21 | [Coppin State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/coppin-state-university) | Baltimore, MD | 26% | $46,490 | $9,977 | $25,000 | 0.54x |
| 22 | [Bowie State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bowie-state-university) | Bowie, MD | 38% | $54,537 | $19,298 | $22,985 | 0.42x |
| 23 | [United States Naval Academy](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/united-states-naval-academy) | Annapolis, MD | 92% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 24 | [University of Maryland Eastern Shore](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-maryland-eastern-shore) | Princess Anne, MD | 35% | $47,697 | $13,338 | $27,000 | 0.57x |
| 25 | [University of Maryland Global Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-maryland-global-campus) | Adelphi, MD | 31% | $65,287 | $22,063 | $21,000 | 0.32x |
| 26 | [Ner Israel Rabbinical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ner-israel-rabbinical-college) | Baltimore, MD | 35% | $66,330 | $13,572 | N/A | N/A |
| 27 | [St. John's College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/st-johns-college) | Annapolis, MD | 69% | $51,584 | $45,597 | $27,000 | 0.52x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Master's Programs in Maryland." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-masters-maryland

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.