State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard
Cheapest Colleges in Maryland
According to U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, 66 Maryland colleges ranked by average net price, what students actually paid after grant and scholarship aid, not the published sticker price.
- $2,725
- Cheapest net price
- $17,140
- Maryland median
- 66
- Schools ranked
Data updated June 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage
The list in one line
Carroll Community College has the lowest average net price in Maryland at $2,725/year.
- $2,725
- cheapest ranked net price
- $17,140
- Maryland median net price
- 28 public / 38 private
- schools in this ranking
- $15,100
- avg net price, <$30K income families
Average net price is the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, not counting loans that must be repaid. A very low figure at a specialty or religious institution can reflect a narrow enrollment mix rather than typical affordability, check the sector label and enrollment before comparing.
Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at Johns Hopkins University, where in-state published tuition of $65,230 falls to an average net price of $18,809 after aid, a $46,421 gap. This is the widest sticker-to-net-price gap among ranked Maryland schools, and a reminder that published tuition alone is a poor guide to what most admitted students actually pay.
Across all 66 ranked Maryland schools, 28 are public institutions and 38 are private (nonprofit or for-profit). Sector is shown next to every school below because a low sticker-adjacent price at a small religious, seminary, or specialty school can reflect an unusual enrollment mix rather than broad affordability, check enrollment and sector before drawing conclusions from rank alone.
Average net price also blends every income bracket into one figure, so a family's own bracket can land well above or below the number shown here. Federal reporting requires an institution to have enough surveyed aid recipients in a bracket before that bracket is published, so a very small school can show only a partial income-bracket breakdown even when its overall average net price is fully reported. Use the school's own profile page for the full income-bracket table before treating a single average as a personal cost estimate.
Maryland's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carroll Community College Westminster, MD · Public | $2,725 95% of the leader · rank #1 | $1,167 | $11,750 | $40,447 | 3,164 |
| 2 | Chesapeake College Wye Mills, MD · Public | $5,106 91% of the leader · rank #2 | $4,668 | - | $35,022 | 1,980 |
| 3 | Hagerstown Community College Hagerstown, MD · Public | $6,835 88% of the leader · rank #3 | $6,093 | $11,000 | $35,634 | 5,433 |
| 4 | Montgomery College Rockville, MD · Public | $8,027 86% of the leader · rank #4 | $6,932 | $10,415 | $38,251 | 17,780 |
| 5 | North American Trade Schools Baltimore, MD · Private for-profit | $8,597 85% of the leader · rank #5 | $8,597 | $7,338 | $43,206 | 529 |
| 6 | Prince George's Community College Largo, MD · Public | $8,672 85% of the leader · rank #6 | $7,314 | $10,500 | $37,482 | 10,513 |
| 7 | Allegany College of Maryland Cumberland, MD · Public | $8,819 84% of the leader · rank #7 | $7,807 | $13,702 | $33,534 | 2,665 |
| 8 | College of Southern Maryland La Plata, MD · Public | $9,204 84% of the leader · rank #8 | $4,798 | $8,500 | $37,269 | 4,984 |
| 9 | Garrett College Mchenry, MD · Public | $9,228 84% of the leader · rank #9 | $7,387 | $10,750 | $28,920 | 701 |
| 10 | Harford Community College Bel Air, MD · Public | $9,234 84% of the leader · rank #10 | $7,272 | $9,812 | $36,741 | 5,108 |
| 11 | Wor-Wic Community College Salisbury, MD · Public | $9,360 84% of the leader · rank #11 | $8,265 | $7,828 | $32,939 | 2,636 |
| 12 | Frederick Community College Frederick, MD · Public | $9,465 83% of the leader · rank #12 | $6,640 | $8,150 | $38,093 | 6,796 |
| 13 | Cecil College North East, MD · Public | $9,658 83% of the leader · rank #13 | $7,850 | $9,536 | $39,837 | 1,845 |
| 14 | Community College of Baltimore County Catonsville, MD · Public | $9,844 83% of the leader · rank #14 | $8,807 | $11,528 | $36,507 | 15,803 |
| 15 | Yeshiva College of the Nations Capital Silver Spring, MD · Private nonprofit | $9,850 83% of the leader · rank #15 | - | - | - | 57 |
| 16 | Coppin State University Baltimore, MD · Public | $9,977 82% of the leader · rank #16 | $7,714 | $25,000 | $42,243 | 2,101 |
| 17 | Howard Community College Columbia, MD · Public | $11,133 80% of the leader · rank #17 | $9,714 | $10,500 | $39,195 | 8,540 |
| 18 | Bais HaMedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofit | $11,361 80% of the leader · rank #18 | $13,700 | - | - | 91 |
| 19 | Women's Institute of Torah Seminary and College Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofit | $11,673 79% of the leader · rank #19 | $7,838 | - | - | 191 |
| 20 | University of Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne, MD · Public | $13,338 77% of the leader · rank #20 | $9,914 | $27,000 | $34,624 | 2,844 |
| 21 | Ner Israel Rabbinical College Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofit | $13,572 76% of the leader · rank #21 | - | - | - | 449 |
| 22 | Aveda Institute-Maryland Bel Air, MD · Private for-profit | $13,705 76% of the leader · rank #22 | $12,891 | $6,333 | $24,894 | 84 |
| 23 | University of Baltimore Baltimore, MD · Public | $13,868 76% of the leader · rank #23 | $11,680 | $23,250 | $48,197 | 3,101 |
| 24 | Anne Arundel Community College Arnold, MD · Public | $14,915 74% of the leader · rank #24 | $12,789 | $8,250 | $38,890 | 11,158 |
| 25 | Morgan State University Baltimore, MD · Public | $14,985 74% of the leader · rank #25 | $9,585 | $27,250 | $40,065 | 9,808 |
See all 66 ranked Maryland schools →
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD · Public | $15,678 72% of the leader · rank #26 | $2,962 | $19,000 | $67,785 | 40,813 |
| 27 | Baltimore City Community College Baltimore, MD · Public | $15,987 72% of the leader · rank #27 | $15,978 | - | $27,972 | 3,939 |
| 28 | Empire Beauty School-Owings Mills Owings Mills, MD · Private for-profit | $15,997 72% of the leader · rank #28 | $15,377 | $13,000 | $19,285 | 131 |
| 29 | Empire Beauty School-Glen Burnie Glen Burnie, MD · Private for-profit | $16,199 72% of the leader · rank #29 | $15,949 | $13,000 | $19,285 | 73 |
| 30 | Maryland Beauty Academy of Essex Baltimore, MD · Private for-profit | $16,374 71% of the leader · rank #30 | $15,041 | $8,500 | $21,104 | 36 |
| 31 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County Baltimore, MD · Public | $16,467 71% of the leader · rank #31 | $5,087 | $19,500 | $55,137 | 14,148 |
| 32 | Frostburg State University Frostburg, MD · Public | $16,715 71% of the leader · rank #32 | $12,129 | $21,105 | $43,638 | 4,075 |
| 33 | Aspen Beauty Academy of Laurel Laurel, MD · Private for-profit | $17,011 70% of the leader · rank #33 | $16,425 | $16,500 | $23,989 | 118 |
| 34 | Baltimore Studio of Hair Design Baltimore, MD · Private for-profit | $17,140 70% of the leader · rank #34 | $17,140 | $8,463 | $17,672 | 39 |
| 35 | Towson University Towson, MD · Public | $17,413 69% of the leader · rank #35 | $6,962 | $18,718 | $54,302 | 19,527 |
| 36 | Salisbury University Salisbury, MD · Public | $17,743 69% of the leader · rank #36 | $6,743 | $21,000 | $51,926 | 7,030 |
| 37 | All-State Career-Baltimore Baltimore, MD · Private for-profit | $18,233 68% of the leader · rank #37 | $18,072 | $9,500 | $32,765 | 535 |
| 38 | St. Mary's College of Maryland Saint Mary'S City, MD · Public | $18,441 68% of the leader · rank #38 | $2,889 | $21,000 | $52,286 | 1,587 |
| 39 | Washington Adventist University Takoma Park, MD · Private nonprofit | $18,526 67% of the leader · rank #39 | $17,534 | $30,500 | $40,114 | 695 |
| 40 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofit | $18,809 67% of the leader · rank #40 | $428 | $10,250 | $86,306 | 30,362 |
| 41 | Montgomery Beauty School-Baltimore Beauty & Barber School Baltimore, MD · Private for-profit | $19,047 67% of the leader · rank #41 | $18,750 | $11,845 | $15,277 | 252 |
| 42 | Notre Dame of Maryland University Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofit | $19,169 66% of the leader · rank #42 | $11,843 | $22,666 | $63,918 | 1,836 |
| 43 | Bowie State University Bowie, MD · Public | $19,298 66% of the leader · rank #43 | $17,071 | $22,985 | $43,877 | 6,408 |
| 44 | Hair Academy New Carrollton, MD · Private for-profit | $20,565 64% of the leader · rank #44 | $20,279 | $13,000 | $20,702 | 241 |
| 45 | Award Beauty School Hagerstown, MD · Private for-profit | $20,576 64% of the leader · rank #45 | $20,466 | $13,000 | $16,898 | 132 |
| 46 | Montgomery Beauty School Silver Spring, MD · Private for-profit | $20,755 64% of the leader · rank #46 | $20,593 | $11,845 | $15,277 | 68 |
| 47 | Hood College Frederick, MD · Private nonprofit | $20,873 63% of the leader · rank #47 | $12,424 | $25,000 | $48,415 | 2,078 |
| 48 | McDaniel College Westminster, MD · Private nonprofit | $21,916 61% of the leader · rank #48 | $12,210 | $25,000 | $47,879 | 2,882 |
| 49 | University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MD · Public | $22,063 61% of the leader · rank #49 | $21,830 | $21,000 | $58,051 | 60,084 |
| 50 | Capitol Technology University Laurel, MD · Private nonprofit | $22,102 61% of the leader · rank #50 | $19,682 | $20,264 | $76,545 | 902 |
| 51 | Goucher College Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofit | $22,470 60% of the leader · rank #51 | $13,471 | $26,000 | $40,563 | 1,500 |
| 52 | Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg, MD · Private nonprofit | $22,655 60% of the leader · rank #52 | $11,603 | $25,391 | $48,915 | 2,499 |
| 53 | Hair Academy II Hillcrest Heights, MD · Private for-profit | $23,444 59% of the leader · rank #53 | $23,288 | $6,333 | $16,006 | 230 |
| 54 | Del-Mar-Va Beauty Academy Salisbury, MD · Private for-profit | $24,260 57% of the leader · rank #54 | $23,115 | $16,500 | $18,809 | 43 |
| 55 | Cortiva Institute Linthicum, MD · Private for-profit | $26,328 54% of the leader · rank #55 | $25,969 | $7,785 | $27,372 | 251 |
| 56 | Stevenson University Stevenson, MD · Private nonprofit | $26,505 53% of the leader · rank #56 | $15,894 | $26,000 | $54,574 | 3,507 |
| 57 | Fortis College-Landover Landover, MD · Private for-profit | $26,578 53% of the leader · rank #57 | $26,196 | $9,500 | $32,479 | 576 |
| 58 | Washington College Chestertown, MD · Private nonprofit | $27,898 51% of the leader · rank #58 | $17,804 | $26,956 | $48,763 | 916 |
| 59 | The Temple-A Paul Mitchell Partner School Frederick, MD · Private for-profit | $28,309 50% of the leader · rank #59 | $28,309 | $9,833 | $24,137 | 167 |
| 60 | Loyola University Maryland Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofit | $30,574 46% of the leader · rank #60 | $20,549 | $27,000 | $64,453 | 5,107 |
| 61 | The Temple Annapolis-A Paul Mitchell Partner School Annapolis, MD · Private for-profit | $31,528 45% of the leader · rank #61 | $31,528 | $9,833 | $24,137 | 221 |
| 62 | Fortis Institute-Towson Towson, MD · Private for-profit | $31,549 45% of the leader · rank #62 | $31,083 | $12,547 | $33,189 | 373 |
| 63 | Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia Columbia, MD · Private for-profit | $34,306 40% of the leader · rank #63 | $33,616 | $11,250 | $36,485 | 1,075 |
| 64 | Maryland Institute College of Art Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofit | $42,729 25% of the leader · rank #64 | $32,389 | $26,500 | $33,451 | 1,861 |
| 65 | St. John's College Annapolis, MD · Private nonprofit | $45,597 20% of the leader · rank #65 | $42,528 | $27,000 | $34,483 | 578 |
| 66 | Omega Studios' School of Applied Recording Arts & Sciences Rockville, MD · Private for-profit | $56,871 4% of the leader · rank #66 | $55,779 | $5,500 | $26,378 | 74 |
What this means for you
Use Maryland's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.
- Carroll Community College reports the lowest average net price in Maryland, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View Carroll Community College
- See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
- Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. Maryland safety
Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.
Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.