Here Are The Best MD Colleges, According To New Rankings

MARYLAND — Johns Hopkins University is the best college in Maryland, according to rankings released Monday by Niche, a college ranking and review platform. In all, 25 colleges in Maryland were ranked among the best.

Niche said its 2024 Best Colleges Rankings reflect the declining importance of SAT and ACT scores and the increasing importance prospective students and their families place on value and economic mobility — that is, the ability of students to improve their economic status after graduation.

The platform evaluated 4,048 public and private four-year colleges nationwide and developed separate lists for the best academics value, food, dorms and college life.

The top five colleges in Maryland are:

1. Johns Hopkins University
Overall Niche grade: A+
Acceptance rate: 8 percent
Net price: $20,680
SAT range: 1,470 to 1,560

2. University of Maryland - College Park
Overall Niche grade: A
Acceptance rate: 52 percent
Net price: $17,146
SAT range: 1,330 to 1,510

3. University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Overall Niche grade: A-
Acceptance rate: 81 percent
Net price: $6,912
SAT range: 1,220 to 1,410

4. University of Baltimore
Overall Niche grade: B+
Acceptance rate: 89 percent
Net price: $17,117
SAT range: 950 to 1,110

5. St. Mary's College of Maryland
Overall Niche grade: B+
Acceptance rate: 77 percent
Net price: $20,213
SAT range: 1,100-1,340

Other Maryland schools ranked by Niche are found on the website.

To rank the schools, Niche analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Education along with reviews and ratings from current students, alumni and parents. The new economic mobility index takes into account the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants, the net tuition price for students from low-income households and the median earnings of those students six years after they get their first post-graduation jobs.

The top schools nationwide are, respectively: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut;

Stanford University, Stanford, California; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge; Harvard University, Cambridge; and Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey.

The best value colleges are, respectively, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California; Stanford University; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; California Institute of Technology, Pasadena; and Clarmont-McKenna College.

Johns Hopkins University ranked 22nd among the 25 best value colleges in the country, according to the ranking.

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