Best Online Colleges in Maryland
Are you ready to discover your college program?
Maryland offers many acclaimed higher education choices for students, including a variety of online programs.
Earning a bachelor’s degree helps professionals expand their job opportunities and increase their earning potential. Many of the best colleges in Maryland offer online programs that appeal to both busy students and working professionals.
Online schools in Maryland work together to improve the quality of distance learning. MarylandOnline, an organization founded in 1999, counts 20 Maryland colleges among its members. The organization connects future and current online learners with resources to improve their online learning experiences.
Maryland’s online schools also offer tuition discounts. At the University of Maryland Global Campus, for example, out-of-state residents receive a significant tuition reduction compared to out-of-state tuition at Maryland public universities.
Our ranking lists the best online colleges in Maryland to help prospective students find the right fit for their academic and professional goals.
The Best Online Colleges in Maryland
Stevenson University
Stevenson, MD- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$34,528
- Out-of-state$34,528
- In-State$8,040
- Out-of-state$8,040
- Retention Rate82%
- Acceptance Rate81%
- Students Enrolled3,579
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment55%
- AccreditationYes
University of Maryland Global Campus
- Adelphi, MD
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$7,200
- Out-of-state$11,976
- In-State$8,640
- Out-of-state$11,862
- Retention Rate52%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled58,281
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment90%
- AccreditationYes
Best Online Colleges
Maryland
2022
Online Colleges in Maryland Ranking Guidelines
We selected the online schools in Maryland based on the quality of their programs, types of courses and degrees offered, and faculty strengths, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation, including a strong reputation for online degree programs.
Featured Online Schools
Employment in Maryland
Maryland’s major industries include the biohealth and life sciences fields, information technology and cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing. Financial services, aerospace, and the energy sector also rank as top industries in Maryland. Thanks to its close connection with Washington, D.C., Maryland’s workforce also includes many federal employees. Online colleges in Maryland also prepare graduates for careers in other growing fields, including business, healthcare, and education.
Maryland has continued to show economic strength compared with other states. Maryland’s unemployment rate in June 2020 reached 8.0% — below the national average of 11.1%. The cost of living in Maryland remains slightly above the national average, but Maryland workers earn a mean annual wage of more than $60,000 per year, which outpaces the national wage of $53,490.
The following data on the highest-paying and fastest-growing careers can help prospective and current students plan for entering the workforce.
| Highest-Paying Career | Mean Salary | Projected Job Growth (2018-2028) |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeons | $278,720 | 11.6% |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $211,430 | 13.2% |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $203,270 | 22.3% |
| Chief Executives | $196,700 | -4.4% |
| Psychiatrists | $195,260 | 28.6% |
| Fastest Growing Careers | Mean Salary | Projected Job Growth (2018-2028) |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Photovoltaic Installer | $47,180 | 56.3% |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | $63,810 | 52.4% |
| Home Health Aides | $27,460 | 43.9% |
| Physician Assistants | $109,620 | 41.7% |
| Personal Care Aides | $27,420 | 41.7% |
Associate and Graduate Degrees
In addition to bachelor’s programs, online schools in Maryland offer associate and graduate degrees. Since the switch to mostly online-only education during the pandemic, Maryland’s colleges have expanded their options for students seeking a distance learning format.
Students can earn associate degrees in business, which can be used to enter the workforce or transfer into bachelor’s programs.
Earning an associate degree through a community college offers additional savings. Maryland’s public community colleges charge around $4,000 per year in tuition and fees, while public four-year institutions cost over $9,000 per year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools charge nearly $42,000 per year on average in Maryland.
Learners can also pursue graduate degrees in high-demand fields like business, education, nursing, and engineering. For example, the University of Maryland offers an online MBA program and online nursing graduate programs.
While online programs may offer the same coursework as on-campus programs, distance students complete any in-person requirements in their local area. For example, business enrollees pursue internships with local businesses, while nursing students meet clinical requirements at healthcare facilities in their cities.
