McDaniel College
Westminster, MD 21157
About McDaniel College
McDaniel College is a private research university in Westminster, Maryland, enrolling about 1,617 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 77.93% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $60,663 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- McDaniel College charges about 1.8× the national private non-profit median tuition ($52,081).
- Versus the Maryland median, sticker tuition is about 5.0×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 63.29%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $60,663.
Research findings
Finding
Average net price at McDaniel College is about 58% below published tuition.
Published tuition is $52,081; average net price is $21,916 in the latest Scorecard extract.
Interpretation: Institutional aid and grants compress sticker price into a substantially lower typical undergraduate cost signal.
Limitation: Average net price masks variation by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the campus average.
Finding
Modeled return on investment at McDaniel College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 592% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
McDaniel College awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 57 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDaniel College | $52,081 | $21,916 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Maryland (state median) | $10,410 | $10,555 | 48 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 58% below published tuition at McDaniel College
Key findings
- McDaniel College's average net price ($21,916) is 58% below published tuition ($52,081).
- McDaniel College charges about 1.8× the national private non-profit median tuition ($52,081).
- Versus the Maryland median, sticker tuition is about 5.0×.
McDaniel College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $52,081
Finding McDaniel College charges about 1.8× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $52,081. That is about 1.8× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Maryland median ($10,410), sticker tuition is about 5.0×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 4.4×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at McDaniel College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at McDaniel College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at McDaniel College is $21,916.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $21,916 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $11,361 above the Maryland median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $6,945 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway McDaniel College’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 58% lower after grants and scholarships.
McDaniel College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for McDaniel College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
Completion, earnings, and net price together describe a campus where sticker price overstates typical undergraduate cost while outcomes remain at the high end of Scorecard distributions.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$52,081
Avg. net price
$21,916
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $12,210 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $17,261 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $19,796 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $21,408 |
| $110,001+ | $30,694 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $208,324. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What McDaniel College is known for
Top program completions
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General146
- Curriculum and Instruction70
- Management Science53
- Psychology, General46
- Business Administration and Management, General42
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 13% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is McDaniel College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
McDaniel College is a good school for those looking for strong completion and solid mid-career earnings—especially where average net price sits well below published tuition (about 58% lower in this extract).
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for McDaniel College.
Campus
Location
Westminster, MD
City / state
- ZIP
- 21157
- NCES locale
- Town fringe
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 46% above the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Mid East
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Size
Enrollment
1,617
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 1,691
- Graduate
- 1,248
- Full-time share
- 99%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$25,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 36.10%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for McDaniel College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at McDaniel College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for McDaniel College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $36,960 | $36,960 | $20,675 |
| 2014 | $38,350 | $38,350 | $19,802 |
| 2015 | $39,500 | $39,500 | $20,096 |
| 2016 | $40,580 | $40,580 | $21,342 |
| 2017 | $41,800 | $41,800 | $20,333 |
| 2018 | $43,260 | $43,260 | $22,302 |
| 2019 | $44,540 | $44,540 | $18,182 |
| 2020 | $45,876 | $45,876 | $20,386 |
| 2021 | $46,336 | $46,336 | $20,379 |
| 2022 | $46,800 | $46,800 | $22,106 |
| 2023 | $49,647 | $49,647 | $20,923 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
McDaniel College reported total enrollment of about 1,617 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 44% male and 56% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (53.5%), Black or African American (23.7%), and Hispanic or Latino (10.5%). About 36.10% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 26.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
99.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at McDaniel College in 2024 is 1,617 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,691 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,248 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
76.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
56.28% 100% Completion Time
63.29% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 56.28% of students graduating from McDaniel College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General: 14% male / 86% female
- Curriculum and Instruction: 14% male / 86% female
- Management Science: 51% male / 49% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
McDaniel College graduates earn a median of $60,663 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of McDaniel College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $60,663. Median federal loan debt: $25,000. Average net price used in cost models: $21,916.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway McDaniel College graduates report median earnings of $60,663 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for McDaniel College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (57 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at McDaniel College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for McDaniel College graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for McDaniel College—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$138.6M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Maryland median 3.1× the median ($44.9M)
- Mid East median 3.3× the median ($42.6M)
- U.S. median 5.3× the median ($26.4M)
- Maryland median 4.2× the median ($13,247)
- Mid East median 3.4× the median ($16,427)
- U.S. median 4.6× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 25.2%
- Maryland median 24.8 pp below median (50.0%)
- Mid East median 31.7 pp below median (56.9%)
- U.S. median 32.7 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $8,473
- Maryland median near the median ($8,806)
- Mid East median near the median ($8,119)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,258
- Maryland median near the median ($10,120)
- Mid East median 1.1× the median ($9,164)
- U.S. median 1.4× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
McDaniel College at a glance
McDaniel College
McDaniel College is a private non-profit institution in Westminster, MD, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Educational Leadership and Administration, GeneralCurriculum and InstructionManagement Science
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian53.5%Black or African American23.7%Hispanic or Latino10.5%
Schools near McDaniel College
Other campuses in Westminster, MD when available, plus nearby institutions in Maryland.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within Maryland, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is McDaniel College located?
McDaniel College is located in Westminster, MD.
What is McDaniel College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at McDaniel College is 77.9% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 3,856 applicants and 3,223 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is McDaniel College's tuition?
McDaniel College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $52,081 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $21,916 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does McDaniel College cost?
Reported tuition is $52,081 and average net price is $21,916 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,974 annually.
Why is McDaniel College's net price so much lower than tuition?
At McDaniel College, published tuition is $52,081 while average net price is $21,916—about 58% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains McDaniel College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($21,916), completion (63.3% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($60,663). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at McDaniel College?
McDaniel College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,691 students, White (53.5%), Black or African American (23.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend McDaniel College?
About 26.4% of students at McDaniel College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of McDaniel College earn?
Median earnings are $47,879 six years after entry and $60,663 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at McDaniel College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 63.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do McDaniel College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,000.
Is McDaniel College public or private?
McDaniel College is a private nonprofit institution located in Westminster, MD.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.