The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that Maryland harbors 58 higher education institutions, including public, nonprofit, and private colleges and universities. Students in these schools can study a vast array of subjects. However, those who want to work in Maryland after graduation should consider studying subjects that allow them to work in some of the area's most prominent industries. Maryland's policies attract businesses in life sciences, cybersecurity, tech-savvy manufacturing, government services, defense, aerospace, financial services, sustainable energy, and agribusiness.
Before students choose between the many on-campus and online colleges in Maryland, they should learn about the factors that affect the state's educational landscape. Below, learners can review the types of schools in the Old Line State, how much the institutions charge for tuition, available programs for out-of-state learners, the job landscape, and specific scholarship opportunities.
But before we dive into our list of best online colleges in Maryland, let's start with the state of higher education and online education in Maryland today.
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Overview of Online Colleges in Maryland
A Brief Overview of Higher Education in Maryland
NCES data shows that 29 of Maryland's 58 higher learning institutions are public. Thirteen of these public schools grant four-year degrees. Sixteen of the public institutions offer only two-year programs, including online community colleges in Maryland. The state also harbors 19 private, nonprofit colleges and universities — all four-year institutions. Finally, 10 for-profit schools educate students in Maryland. The NCES also reports that all of Maryland's colleges and universities instructed 365,670 learners in the 2015-16 school year.[dataviz-stats public="29" non-profit="19" for-profit="10"]The College Board reports on each state's average tuition for public schools. In Maryland, learners who live in the local districts and attend two-year public institutions pay an average of $4,680 per year on tuition and fees. Maryland residents who enroll in public, four-year universities spend an average of $9,900 annually. Where students live, school policies, and the number of hours learners take all affect how much degree candidates spend on tuition and fees. For example, the state's flagship school, the University of Maryland at College Park, charges residents $10,600 per year and out-of-state learners $32,220 annually.Many degree candidates receive help paying their tuition bills. The National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs reports that in the 2015-16 school year, Maryland students received $75,022,250 from the Howard P. Rawlings grant and $21,685,360 from other need-based grants. Students also earned $2,314,710 from merit-based awards and $2,766,560 from other financial assistance programs, such as service loan repayments.
Higher Education in Maryland
Featured Online Programs
The State of Online Higher Education in Maryland
The Distance Education State Almanac 2017 reports on the number of students attending online colleges in Maryland. The survey found that 121,010 students took at least one course through distance education. This number accounts for 32.8% of the state's postsecondary students — a number higher than the 29.7% national average. About 68,530 degree candidates take all of their classes through online colleges in Maryland. Forty-six thousand of these online-only learners take undergraduate courses and 22,400 attend graduate school. Just under 80% of the exclusively online learners, or 54,350 people, live in Maryland.[dataviz-nces online="32.8" undergrad="11.5" in-state="80"]
Tuition Breaks for Out-of-State Students
When some students enroll in the best online colleges in Maryland without proving residency in the state, they pay much more than in-state tuition rates. However, learners from specific states who pursue certain degrees can also pay the in-state rates. The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) has 15 member states, including Maryland. The other states are Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Together, representatives from these jurisdictions make deals to expand education throughout the region.The Academic Common Market (ACM) counts as one of the SREB's most significant initiatives. Students should reside in one of the member states to participate in the ACM. If such learners find that the universities in their states do not offer the programs they want, they pay in-state tuition to earn the degree at a participating university. The SREB pre-approves more than 1,900 degrees. However, learners can apply to use the ACM if their desired programs are not for professional degrees like law and medicine. The ACM allows these learners to attend courses on-campus or through some of the online colleges in Maryland. The SREB also lists other programs as advanced professional degrees.
Best Online Colleges in Maryland
Below, you will find our rankings of the best online four-year programs in Maryland. Our profiles look at how schools approach online education and then list out their services for distance students and their popular, fully online degrees. After reviewing the best online schools in Maryland, explore our state resources, like a database of every college and university in Maryland or our index of popular in-state scholarships.
Ranking Methodology
To determine the best online colleges in each state, we examined the factors most important to prospective students: Academic quality and reputation, online program strength, and cost and student aid. At the most basic level, we use the following formula to determine the best online colleges: Academic Quality + Online Offerings + Cost and Student Aid = Final Score. Of course, there's more to these calculations than meets the eye. Visit our methodology page to discover the data points that shape our formula and to learn more about the process we use to rank schools.
Most Affordable Online Colleges in Maryland
Below, you'll find all of the online schools in Maryland sorted by their tuition rates.
Affordability Methodology
Our list of the most affordable online colleges in Maryland is based on in-state yearly tuition, or annual tuition rates if a school does not differentiate between in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition rates are based on a full course load each semester or term. All colleges on the list offer at least one bachelor's degree completion program available entirely online.The online schools in MD with the lowest tuition are ranked highest, providing prospective students with a true list of the most affordable online colleges in their state.
College Graduate Outlook in Maryland
Job Outlook for College Graduates in Maryland
After graduation, many learners go on to work and live in Maryland. Students who want to do this should understand the local job market, what jobs pay particularly well, and which careers are in high-demand. As of September 2018, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the unemployment rate in Maryland ranks slightly above the national average: 4.2% unemployment in Maryland and 3.7 unemployment in the U.S.In total, the BLS reports that Maryland harbors 2,664,330 workers. The average hourly wage for these earners reaches $27.50, and the average salary reaches $57,270. These earnings rank higher than the national average of all occupations, which is $24.34 per hour — or $50,620 annually. Like many states, the top earners in Maryland are medical professionals. Sales managers, computer information systems managers, and judges all rank high as well.