Cost of college in Maryland
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Maryland averages $10,102 a year, or $18,354 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $67,250 and owe about $20,789. The net price pays back in about 2.9 years.
How Maryland compares to the US
Maryland ranks #25 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #3 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #5 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Maryland | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $10,102 | $9,518 | +$584 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $24,255 | $23,652 | +$603 |
| Net price after aid | $18,354 | $13,788 | +$4,566 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $67,250 | $56,427 | +$10,823 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,789 | $17,856 | +$2,933 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Maryland pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Maryland costs about $73,416 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 2.9 years from the roughly $25,450-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #5 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Maryland list about $52,260 in tuition and net out to about $24,696 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Maryland?
At a public 4-year college in Maryland, in-state tuition and fees average about $10,102 a year and out-of-state runs about $24,255. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $18,354. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Maryland earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Maryland's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $67,250 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $20,789 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Maryland?
A public 4-year degree in Maryland costs about $73,416 over four years at net price and recoups in about 2.9 years from the roughly $25,450-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.