Executive Summary (TL;DR)

Colleges in Baltimore, Maryland: median public in-state tuition $13,178 (+139.1% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $61,335 (+12.8% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 84.0% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $19,500 (+46.9% vs U.S.) 56,343 students enrolled statewide.

Overview

Colleges and universities in Baltimore serve students across Maryland with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 21 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 56,343 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $13,178. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Baltimore, Maryland and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.

Baltimore vs Maryland & national benchmarks

Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.

State versus regional and national education metrics
Geography In-state tuition Net price Median debt Completion rate Enrollment
Baltimore, Maryland$13,178$16,420$19,50053.7%56,343
Maryland (state median)$5,166$10,555$13,00056.0%253,178
United States$5,512$9,969$13,27150.3%14,468,221

Earnings & employment outcomes: Baltimore, Maryland vs benchmarks

Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.

Earnings and employment outcome benchmarks
Geography Median earnings (10 yr) Working & not enrolled (8 yr) Retention (FT yr 1) 2-yr default 3-yr default 3-yr repayment progress Debt ÷ earnings
Baltimore, Maryland$61,33584.0%81.0%4.5%77.8%0.38
Maryland (state median)$61,79786.0%78.1%4.7%77.2%0.40
United States$54,38488.0%76.4%5.0%73.7%0.41

Other cities in Maryland (3+ campuses)

Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.

Peer comparison table
City In-state tuition Net price Median debt Completion Enrollment Earnings (10 yr) Working (8 yr)
Baltimore, Maryland$13,178$16,420$19,50053.7%56,343$61,33584.0%
Towson$11,728$24,481$15,63269.5%16,490$64,39088.9%
Rockville$5,394$32,449$7,958N/A13,855N/AN/A
Salisbury$7,462$17,743$16,50068.2%8,258$61,51592.1%
Salisbury$7,462$17,743$16,50068.2%8,258$61,51592.1%
Columbia$4,080$22,720$10,875N/A7,907N/AN/A
Columbia$4,080$22,720$10,875N/A7,907N/AN/A
Columbia$4,080$22,720$10,875N/A7,907N/AN/A
Frederick$25,774$20,873$9,83356.9%5,537$57,08987.3%
United States$5,512$9,969$13,27150.3%14,468,221$54,38488.0%

Outcomes by sector in Baltimore, Maryland

Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).

Sector Campuses Median earnings (10 yr) Working share (8 yr) Retention 2-yr default 3-yr default 3-yr repayment
Private nonprofit5$65,34477.7%83.4%2.7%84.5%
Public5$61,33585.9%69.8%5.9%56.3%

Top 10 colleges in Baltimore, Maryland by graduation rate (150% time)

Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.

Top 10 colleges in Baltimore, Maryland by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)

Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.

Top 9 most selective colleges in Baltimore, Maryland (lowest admission rate)

Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.

Top 10 colleges in Baltimore, Maryland by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)

Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.

Top 10 colleges in Baltimore, Maryland by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)

Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.

Top 10 colleges in Baltimore, Maryland by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)

Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.

Top 10 colleges in Baltimore, Maryland by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)

Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.

Top 10 colleges in Baltimore, Maryland by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)

Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.

Top 9 colleges in Baltimore, Maryland by 10-year ROI

Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.

Top 9 most affordable colleges in Baltimore, Maryland (net price)

Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.

Top 10 colleges in Baltimore, Maryland by first-year retention (full-time)

Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.

In-state tuition: Baltimore, Maryland vs benchmarks

Sticker price

Baltimore, Maryland median in-state tuition is $13,178, +139.1% vs the U.S. median.

Student debt: Baltimore, Maryland vs benchmarks

Borrowing

Median debt at graduation in Baltimore, Maryland is $19,500 (+46.9% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $13,000.

Median earnings (10 years out): Baltimore, Maryland vs benchmarks

Payoff

Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Baltimore, Maryland center around $61,335 (+12.8% vs U.S.).

Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.

Employment outcome proxy: Baltimore, Maryland vs benchmarks

Working & not enrolled

The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 84.0% at the median Baltimore, Maryland campus (-4.0 pp vs U.S.).

Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).

Analysis & insights

EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.

Costs & borrowing

Baltimore, Maryland median public in-state tuition is $13,178, about +139.1% vs the national median. Versus the Mid East region, tuition is +78.5%.

Median graduate debt is $19,500 (+46.9% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.

Earnings, employment & retention

Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Baltimore, Maryland are $61,335, about +12.8% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).

The median campus reports 84.0% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-4.0 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.

First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 81.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.

Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.5% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 77.8% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.

Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Notre Dame of Maryland University (90.5%), University of Maryland Baltimore (89.0%), University of Maryland-Baltimore County (87.2%), Coppin State University (85.9%), University of Baltimore (85.7%), Morgan State University (84.0%), Strayer University-Maryland (81.1%), Johns Hopkins University (78.0%), Maryland Institute College of Art (77.7%), Goucher College (71.6%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.

Completion & workforce context

Within Baltimore, Maryland, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $65,344 (5 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $61,335 (5 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.

Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Baltimore, Maryland is 53.7% (national institution average about 50.3%).

Frequently Asked Questions

How many colleges are in Baltimore?

This city profile covers 21 campuses in Baltimore, Maryland with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.

How much does college cost in Baltimore?

Median in-state tuition in Baltimore is $13,178 and median net price is $16,420. For Maryland overall, medians are $5,166 and $10,555; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.

What do graduates earn in Baltimore?

Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Baltimore is $61,335 vs $61,797 for Maryland and $54,384 nationally.

What is student debt like for Baltimore colleges?

Median completer debt in Baltimore is $19,500 vs $13,000 for Maryland and $13,271 nationally.

What are the best colleges in Baltimore?

Top campuses on this page include Johns Hopkins University (graduation) and University of Maryland Baltimore (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.

Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Baltimore?

Among 21 campuses in Baltimore, Maryland, 2 historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs, IPEDS HBCU flag), including Coppin State University and Morgan State University; 2 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (2).

Sources & related