2026 Best Value Graduate Degrees Schools in Maryland
Looking for the best-value Graduate Degrees degree programs in Maryland? This list ranks 78 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree reviewed 16 schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Maryland
Explore the best-value schools below:
Hood College tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Graduate Degrees degree schools in Maryland. Located in Frederick, MD, Hood College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $47,700. Graduates carry a median of $24,703 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $57,089. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%. Read more about Hood College
Mcdaniel College came in at #2 on this year's best-value Graduate Degrees ranking in Maryland. Located in Westminster, MD, Mcdaniel College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,081. Students borrow a median of $23,247 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,663 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,247 median debt. Mcdaniel College has an acceptance rate of 78%. Read more about Mcdaniel College
You'll get strong value at Salisbury University, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Salisbury, MD, Salisbury University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,084 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,174. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $23,545. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,515 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Salisbury University has an acceptance rate of 88%. Read the full report on Salisbury University
University Of Maryland University College came in at #4 on this year's best-value Graduate Degrees ranking in Maryland. Set in Adelphi, MD, University Of Maryland University College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,136, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,276 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $65,287. That is a strong return on a $23,276 median debt. Read more about University Of Maryland University College
You'll get strong value at Towson University, which ranked #5 this year. This public school is set in Towson, MD. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,728, with out-of-state students paying around $29,820. Towson University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $21,241 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $64,390. Set against $21,241 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%. More on Towson University
Bowie State University came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Set in Bowie, MD, Bowie State University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,218, compared with $19,938 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $28,474 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,537 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bowie State University has an acceptance rate of 72%. Read more about Bowie State University
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #7 spot for value in Maryland this year. Set in College Park, MD, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $82,860. Set against $20,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants. Read the full report on University Of Maryland College Park
Frostburg State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Frostburg State University is a public school based in Frostburg, MD. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,220, with out-of-state students paying around $25,814. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $25,340. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,493. Set against $25,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Frostburg State University has an acceptance rate of 89%. More on Frostburg State University
University Of Maryland Baltimore County ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Based in Baltimore, MD, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,256 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,225. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $21,331. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $69,960. Set against $21,331 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland Baltimore County has an acceptance rate of 72%. See the full University Of Maryland Baltimore County profile
Morgan State University offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Set in Baltimore, MD, Morgan State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,229, compared with $19,124 for out-of-state students. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $30,309. Median earnings reach $50,698 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $30,309 median debt. Morgan State University admits about 82% of applicants. More on Morgan State University
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. University Of Maryland Eastern Shore is a public school based in Princess Anne, MD. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,076, while out-of-state students pay about $20,122. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $26,996. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,697 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maryland Eastern Shore has an acceptance rate of 96%. See the full University Of Maryland Eastern Shore profile
Loyola University Baltimore landed the #12 spot for value in Maryland this year. Loyola University Baltimore is a private not-for-profit school based in Baltimore, MD. In-state tuition and fees average $57,150. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $82,652. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%. See the full Loyola University Baltimore profile
Mount St Marys University offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Located in Emmitsburg, MD, Mount St Marys University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,630. Graduates carry a median of $23,539 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $64,072. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mount St Marys University admits about 74% of applicants. Read more about Mount St Marys University
College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland placed #14 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Maryland. College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland is a private not-for-profit school based in Baltimore, MD. In-state tuition and fees average $43,360. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $65,344. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%. Read the full report on College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland
University Of Baltimore placed #15 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Maryland. Based in Baltimore, MD, University Of Baltimore is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,984. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $29,681. University Of Baltimore alumni report median earnings of $61,335 a decade after entry. Set against $29,681 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Baltimore has an acceptance rate of 79%. Get the full University Of Baltimore report
Johns Hopkins University landed the #16 spot for value in Maryland this year. Located in Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,730 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $87,555. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johns Hopkins University has an acceptance rate of 6%. See the full Johns Hopkins University profile
Stevenson University landed the #17 spot for value in Maryland this year. Read more about Stevenson University
Baltimore Beauty Barber School Ii came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Baltimore Beauty Barber School Ii report
Sans Technology Institute landed the #19 spot for value in Maryland this year. See the full Sans Technology Institute profile
University System Of Maryland Research Centers came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University System Of Maryland Research Centers report
Aveda Institute Maryland landed the #21 spot for value in Maryland this year. Read more about Aveda Institute Maryland
Aspen Beauty Academy Of Laurel came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. More on Aspen Beauty Academy Of Laurel
Coppin State University offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read the full report on Coppin State University
The Temple Annapolis A Paul Mitchell Partner School placed #24 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Maryland. Get the full The Temple Annapolis A Paul Mitchell Partner School report
Montgomery Beauty School Baltimore Beauty Barber School came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. More on Montgomery Beauty School Baltimore Beauty Barber School
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Maryland
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Strayer University Maryland offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Read more about Strayer University Maryland
Howard Community College came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. See the full Howard Community College profile
Allegany College Of Maryland ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Allegany College Of Maryland report
Bais Hamedrash And Mesivta Of Baltimore placed #29 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Maryland. Read the full report on Bais Hamedrash And Mesivta Of Baltimore
Holistic Massage Training Institute landed the #30 spot for value in Maryland this year. Read the full report on Holistic Massage Training Institute
Empire Beauty School Owings Mills offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Get the full Empire Beauty School Owings Mills report
The Temple A Paul Mitchell Partner School ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. More on The Temple A Paul Mitchell Partner School
Cecil College
Cecil College offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Get the full Cecil College report
Institute Of Health Sciences landed the #34 spot for value in Maryland this year. More on Institute Of Health Sciences
Ner Israel Rabbinical College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Ner Israel Rabbinical College
Goucher College
Goucher College placed #36 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Maryland. Read the full report on Goucher College
Paul Mitchell The School Jessup placed #37 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Maryland. See the full Paul Mitchell The School Jessup profile
Frederick Community College landed the #38 spot for value in Maryland this year. Read the full report on Frederick Community College
Harford Community College landed the #39 spot for value in Maryland this year. Get the full Harford Community College report
Award Beauty School landed the #40 spot for value in Maryland this year. See the full Award Beauty School profile
Hair Expressions Academy placed #41 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Maryland. More on Hair Expressions Academy
Maryland University Of Integrative Health ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. More on Maryland University Of Integrative Health
Womens Institute Of Torah Seminary placed #43 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Maryland. See the full Womens Institute Of Torah Seminary profile
Hair Academy Inc New Carrollton came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Hair Academy Inc New Carrollton
Maryland Beauty Academy Of Essex ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Maryland Beauty Academy Of Essex
Montgomery College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. More on Montgomery College
Chesapeake College offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. More on Chesapeake College
Delmarva Beauty Academy placed #48 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Maryland. See the full Delmarva Beauty Academy profile
Washington Adventist University came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Washington Adventist University report
Omega Studios School Of Applied Recording Arts And Sciences ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Omega Studios School Of Applied Recording Arts And Sciences report
More Graduate Degrees Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 16 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 78 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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