Frederick, Maryland Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Frederick, Maryland: median public in-state tuition $25,774 (+367.6% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $57,089 (+5.0% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 87.3% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $9,833 (-25.9% vs U.S.) 5,537 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Frederick serve students across Maryland with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 3 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 5,537 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $25,774. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Frederick, Maryland and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Frederick vs Maryland & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick, Maryland | $25,774 | $20,873 | $9,833 | 56.9% | 5,537 |
| Maryland (state median) | $5,166 | $10,555 | $13,000 | 56.0% | 253,178 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Frederick, 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.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick, Maryland | $57,089 | 87.3% | 68.0% | 4.0% | — | 77.2% | 0.44 |
| Maryland (state median) | $61,797 | 86.0% | 78.1% | 4.7% | — | 77.2% | 0.40 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 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.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick, Maryland | $25,774 | $20,873 | $9,833 | 56.9% | 5,537 | $57,089 | 87.3% |
| Baltimore | $13,178 | $16,420 | $19,500 | 53.7% | 56,343 | $61,335 | 84.0% |
| Towson | $11,728 | $24,481 | $15,632 | 69.5% | 16,490 | $64,390 | 88.9% |
| Rockville | $5,394 | $32,449 | $7,958 | N/A | 13,855 | N/A | N/A |
| Salisbury | $7,462 | $17,743 | $16,500 | 68.2% | 8,258 | $61,515 | 92.1% |
| Salisbury | $7,462 | $17,743 | $16,500 | 68.2% | 8,258 | $61,515 | 92.1% |
| Columbia | $4,080 | $22,720 | $10,875 | N/A | 7,907 | N/A | N/A |
| Columbia | $4,080 | $22,720 | $10,875 | N/A | 7,907 | N/A | N/A |
| Columbia | $4,080 | $22,720 | $10,875 | N/A | 7,907 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Frederick, 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.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 56.9%, Hood College
Hood College
Top college in Frederick, 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.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 87.3%, Hood College
Hood College
Most selective college in Frederick, 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.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 77.8%, Hood College
Hood College
Top college in Frederick, 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.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $78,873, Hood College
Hood College
Top college in Frederick, 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.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $92,955, Hood College
Hood College
Top college in Frederick, 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.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $48,415, Hood College
Hood College
Top college in Frederick, 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.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $52,669, Hood College
Hood College
Top college in Frederick, 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.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $57,089, Hood College
Hood College
Top college in Frederick, 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.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $159,229, Hood College
Hood College
Most affordable college in Frederick, 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.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $20,873, Hood College
Hood College
Top college in Frederick, 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.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 68.0%, Hood College
Hood College
In-state tuition: Frederick, Maryland vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Frederick, Maryland median in-state tuition is $25,774, +367.6% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Frederick, Maryland vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Frederick, Maryland is $9,833 (-25.9% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $13,000.
Median earnings (10 years out): Frederick, Maryland vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Frederick, Maryland center around $57,089 (+5.0% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Frederick, Maryland vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 87.3% at the median Frederick, Maryland campus (-0.7 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
Frederick, Maryland median public in-state tuition is $25,774, about +367.6% vs the national median. Versus the Mid East region, tuition is +249.2%.
Median graduate debt is $9,833 (-25.9% below 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 Frederick, Maryland are $57,089, about +5.0% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 87.3% 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% (-0.7 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 68.0% 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 4.0% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 77.2% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Hood College (87.3%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Frederick, Maryland is 56.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Frederick?
This city profile covers 3 campuses in Frederick, Maryland with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Frederick?
Median in-state tuition in Frederick is $25,774 and median net price is $20,873. For Maryland overall, medians are $5,166 and $10,555; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Frederick?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Frederick is $57,089 vs $61,797 for Maryland and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Frederick colleges?
Median completer debt in Frederick is $9,833 vs $13,000 for Maryland and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Frederick?
Top campuses on this page include Hood College (graduation) and Hood College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Frederick?
Among 3 College Scorecard campuses in Frederick, Maryland, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Maryland college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON