Best Online Colleges in Maryland

Q: Is online college free in Maryland?

No, online college is not free in Maryland. However, many online colleges in Maryland offer affordable tuition rates and financial aid opportunities. You can also compare schools on affordability when searching. Maryland does offer free community college to low- and middle-income students.

Q: Does the University of Maryland offer online degrees?

Yes, the University of Maryland offers more than 125 programs through its global campus. You can choose from more than 30 undergraduate programs or more than 55 graduate programs. Along with being one of the top-ranked online colleges, the University of Maryland is also considered an affordable college.

Q: How many online colleges are in Maryland?

There are dozens of online colleges in Maryland, including 28 four-year institutions and 16 two-year institutions that offer online programs. You can also choose from public and private online colleges in the state. When researching Maryland online universities, make sure to choose an accredited institution.

Q: What is the easiest online college to get into in Maryland?

The easiest online college to get into in Maryland is the University of Maryland Global Campus. The public university uses an open admissions policy. That means that if you have a high school diploma or the equivalent, you can attend the school, regardless of your GPA or test scores.

Maryland is a great place to earn a college degree. Discover the top-ranked online colleges in Maryland.

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Updated March 26, 2024

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Maryland is home to some of the best colleges in the country — and you don’t have to leave home to enroll at top schools like the University of Maryland.

Online colleges in Maryland enroll thousands of students pursuing degrees in high-demand fields like business, tech, healthcare, and education. You can find a Maryland online college that fits your budget and educational goals.

Want to learn more? Check out our ranking of the best online colleges in Maryland.

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In this Article

Best Online Colleges in Maryland

We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools. from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.

How We Rank Schools

To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.

To qualify for our rankings lists, each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution. Each eligible school was then ranked based on a formula measuring:

Affordability (30%)
Student outcomes (30%)
Reputation (20%)
Diversity and social mobility (20%)

In addition, we only included colleges with graduation rates in the top third of all online colleges.

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Baltimore, MD4 yearCampus + Online

$9,635

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$39,597

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Acceptance Rate

45%

Online Enrollment

Six professional schools and an interdisciplinary graduate school make up the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Instead of offering a wide variety of degree programs, the university is very focused and only offers programs in human services, healthcare, and law. Its professional schools include dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, social work, and medicine.

You can pursue an undergraduate RN-to-BSN program fully online or complete an RN-to-MSN program. The majority of UM's programs are offered at the graduate level. Online graduate programs include health services leadership and management, social entrepreneurship, and pharmacometrics.

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$15,443

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$33,639

Retention Rate

N/A

Students Enrolled

6,931

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,635

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$39,597

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Baltimore, MD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,635

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$39,597

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

45%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$15,443

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$33,639

Retention Rate

N/A

Students Enrolled

6,931

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Towson University

Towson, MD4 yearCampus + Online

$7,382

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$24,402

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

83%

Acceptance Rate

40%

Online Enrollment

You can complete master's-level degrees and certificates, as well as doctoral degrees, entirely online at Towson University. Master's program options include education, liberal arts and humanities, and technology and security.

Townson also offers 19 fully online graduate certificates and individual graduate-level courses that aim to help professionals boost their skills and increase their knowledge. At Townson, you'll experience small class sizes, averaging 24 students per class.

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,676

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,964

Retention Rate

83%

Students Enrolled

19,527

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,382

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,402

Towson University

Towson, MD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,382

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,402

Acceptance Rate

83%

Online Enrollment

40%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,676

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,964

Retention Rate

83%

Students Enrolled

19,527

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Stevenson University

Owings Mills, MD4 yearCampus + Online

$36,036

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$36,036

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

84%

Acceptance Rate

62%

Online Enrollment

Stevenson University is a small private college with about 900 online students and a 15-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. All student undergrads participate in a practicum, internship, or research experience as part of their program.

The school offers 10 bachelor's and 21 master's programs online, as well as several online certificates. You can also explore Stevenson's dual degree programs, where you can graduate in five years with both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,340

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$8,340

Retention Rate

77%

Students Enrolled

3,873

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$36,036

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,036

Stevenson University

Owings Mills, MD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$36,036

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,036

Acceptance Rate

84%

Online Enrollment

62%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,340

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$8,340

Retention Rate

77%

Students Enrolled

3,873

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Notre Dame of Maryland University

Baltimore, MD4 yearCampus + Online

$39,250

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$39,250

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

70%

Acceptance Rate

72%

Online Enrollment

Founded in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University is a Catholic college with a small student population of around 1,700 students.

NDMU has 20 online degree programs, most of which are master's programs. Courses are offered in eight-week sessions. You can complete both a bachelor's and a master's degree in business through NDMU's five-year, fully online program. The school also hosts a BSN bridge program; this 15-month accelerated program is for students who hold a bachelor's degree in any field who want to earn a bachelor's in nursing.

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,889

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,889

Retention Rate

62%

Students Enrolled

1,733

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$39,250

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$39,250

Notre Dame of Maryland University

Baltimore, MD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$39,250

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$39,250

Acceptance Rate

70%

Online Enrollment

72%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,889

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,889

Retention Rate

62%

Students Enrolled

1,733

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Founded in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University is a Catholic college with a small student population of around 1,700 students.

Goucher College

Baltimore, MD4 yearCampus + Online

$49,020

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$49,020

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

73%

Acceptance Rate

39%

Online Enrollment

Goucher College is a private liberal arts college based in Baltimore. Although there are no online bachelor's programs at Goucher, you can enroll in master's-level degree and certificate programs.

There are six online master's programs at Goucher College. Degree options include a master's in education, a master's in environmental sustainability and management, and a master's in digital communication. These programs are designed for working professionals and emphasize flexibility.

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,185

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,185

Retention Rate

77%

Students Enrolled

1,501

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$49,020

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$49,020

Goucher College

Baltimore, MD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$49,020

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$49,020

Acceptance Rate

73%

Online Enrollment

39%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,185

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,185

Retention Rate

77%

Students Enrolled

1,501

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Goucher College is a private liberal arts college based in Baltimore. Although there are no online bachelor's programs at Goucher, you can enroll in master's-level degree and certificate programs.

Cost of College in Maryland

The cost of college in Maryland is very similar to the national average, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Maryland residents pay around $10,000 per year in tuition and fees at public universities.

You can save on college costs by researching affordable online colleges in Maryland. Online colleges offer cost savings on tuition, living expenses, and transportation costs.

Cost of College in Maryland in 2021-2022
Institution Type	Average Tuition & Required Fees
Public 4-year (In-State)	$9,851
Public 4-year (Out-of-State)	$27,111
Private 4-year	$47,092
Public 2-year (In-State)	$4,367
Public 2-year (Out-of-State)	$10,631

Source: NCES

10 Fast-Growing Jobs in Maryland

Some of the fastest-growing jobs in Maryland include physical therapist assistant, nurse practitioner, and medical and health services managers. These careers, along with many other in-demand roles, require a college degree.

Attending a Maryland online college can mean more job opportunities and a higher earning potential. Plus, you’ll be able to connect to local employers in Maryland. These career paths tend to pay more than jobs that don’t require a degree.

10 Fast-Growing Jobs in Maryland
Job	Job Growth 2020-2030	Average Annual Wage 2022
Audio and Video Equipment Technicians	59%	$58,860
Animal Trainers	56%	$42,130
Nonfarm Animal Caretakers	54%	$35,490
Restaurant Cooks	41%	$35,120
Physical Therapist Assistants	39%	$64,550
Massage Therapists	33%	$67,820
Nurse Practitioners	32%	$119,650
Audiologists	26%	$79,280
Phlebotomists	23%	$45,130
Medical and Health Services Managers	23%	$148,650

Source: Maryland Department of Labor, BLS

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Colleges in Maryland

What is the #1 college in Maryland?

The top-ranked college in Maryland is Johns Hopkins University, a private research university in Baltimore. Maryland’s #1 public college is the University of Maryland, located in College Park. Maryland is home to many prestigious on-campus and online colleges.

Is online college free in Maryland?

Does the University of Maryland offer online degrees?

How many online colleges are in Maryland?

What is the easiest online college to get into in Maryland?

Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed February 27, 2024.