Online Degrees In Maryland (MD)

Maryland has a lot packed into its 10,460 square miles, from natural features like the Chesapeake Bay, to its rich history, culture and agricultural bounty such as world-renowned crab. This tiny state is also chock full of educational and career opportunities. As home to numerous premier research institutions and corporate headquarters, Maryland scores high marks from economic researchers for its large share of high-tech, science, teaching and professional/managerial jobs, as well as healthcare and skilled labor professions, all of which increasingly need workers with college-level education to fill them.

Maryland’s leaders and its higher education institutions are actively working to enhance the state’s online offerings to help make earning a college education a more accessible option to its residents. This increase in higher education options – including online degree programs in Maryland- may help meet the demand for a more educated workforce in the state.

The Huffington Post reported that Maryland is one of the most highly educated states in the country — nearly 39 percent of its adults have bachelor’s degrees, the third-highest rate among states — which may help explain why its average household income is the highest in the country. The state’s economy also outperforms the nation and it offers plentiful career opportunities to those who earn their education here.

Yet Maryland currently sees more prospective college students leaving the state for college than coming in, which means it may be losing out on educated future employees who could fill job openings in the state. Meanwhile, the number of job offers for college graduates in the state is growing, according to The Baltimore Sun.

In response to the state’s “brain drain” and in order to grow the number of college graduates, state leaders are taking some innovative steps to make attending college in Maryland more appealing. These include passing a recent bill to waive tuition at community college starting in 2019 to qualified Maryland residents — including those who choose to study online — as well as making more scholarship dollars available so that Maryland residents can afford to attend college.

Also, Maryland has always been a pioneer in online education — the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) is one of the nation’s oldest distance education providers, with a 20-year history of doing so. And Maryland Online is a consortium of about 20 Maryland community colleges and universities that offer students the opportunity to complete courses, certificate programs, and degrees through distance learning.

Earning an online degree in Maryland can provide an excellent opportunity to gain the education needed for one of the state’s fast-growing occupations, while enjoying the flexibility in timing and location that online education offers.

Online degree programs in Maryland can offer the benefit of convenience to students, whether you’re fresh out of high school, earning an advanced degree or returning to finish a degree after a long absence. But how do you decide which program is right for you? We’ve done some of the research for you. Using a methodology that compiles the number of online programs, graduation rate, tuition costs and more, we’ve put together the following list of the top Maryland colleges that offer online degree programs.

1
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
https://www.jhu.edu
Average in-state tuition
$53,740
No. of online programs
70
% of students in distance education
43%
Avg. amount of Aid
$38,268
Admissions Rate
11%
Graduation Rate
93%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
2
Towson University
Towson, MD
https://www.towson.edu
Average in-state tuition
$6,826
No. of online programs
17
% of students in distance education
19%
Avg. amount of Aid
$8,903
Admissions Rate
79%
Graduation Rate
73%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
3
Stevenson University
Stevenson, MD
https://www.stevenson.edu
Average in-state tuition
$33,690
No. of online programs
14
% of students in distance education
54%
Avg. amount of Aid
$19,985
Admissions Rate
73%
Graduation Rate
56%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
4
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD
https://www.umd.edu
Average in-state tuition
$8,651
No. of online programs
3
% of students in distance education
12%
Avg. amount of Aid
$9,348
Admissions Rate
47%
Graduation Rate
86%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
5
College of Southern Maryland
La Plata, MD
https://www.csmd.edu/
Average in-state tuition
$5,328
No. of online programs
16
% of students in distance education
45%
Avg. amount of Aid
$4,227
Admissions Rate
N/A%
Graduation Rate
N/A%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
6
McDaniel College
Westminster, MD
https://www.mcdaniel.edu
Average in-state tuition
$43,260
No. of online programs
2
% of students in distance education
19%
Avg. amount of Aid
$30,658
Admissions Rate
64%
Graduation Rate
67%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
No
7
University of Maryland-University College
Adelphi, MD
https://www.umuc.edu
Average in-state tuition
$7,056
No. of online programs
86
% of students in distance education
90%
Avg. amount of Aid
$3,315
Admissions Rate
N/A%
Graduation Rate
15%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
No
8
Frostburg State University
Frostburg, MD
https://www.frostburg.edu
Average in-state tuition
$6,600
No. of online programs
6
% of students in distance education
34%
Avg. amount of Aid
$7,344
Admissions Rate
78%
Graduation Rate
52%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
No
9
Hagerstown Community College
Hagerstown, MD
https://www.hagerstowncc.edu
Average in-state tuition
$5,320
No. of online programs
9
% of students in distance education
38%
Avg. amount of Aid
$2,819
Admissions Rate
N/A%
Graduation Rate
N/A%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
10
Salisbury University
Salisbury, MD
https://www.salisbury.edu
Average in-state tuition
$7,122
No. of online programs
2
% of students in distance education
18%
Avg. amount of Aid
$5,844
Admissions Rate
62%
Graduation Rate
68%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
11
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD
Average in-state tuition
$8,534
No. of online programs
5
% of students in distance education
9%
Avg. amount of Aid
$9,231
Admissions Rate
57.9351535836
Graduation Rate
68
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
12
Anne Arundel Community College
Arnold, MD
Average in-state tuition
$6,570
No. of online programs
11
% of students in distance education
44%
Avg. amount of Aid
$3,113
Admissions Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate
N/A
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
No
13
Prince George's Community College
Largo, MD
Average in-state tuition
$4,848
No. of online programs
12
% of students in distance education
29%
Avg. amount of Aid
$2,947
Admissions Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate
N/A
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
14
Harford Community College
Bel Air, MD
Average in-state tuition
$5,268
No. of online programs
4
% of students in distance education
39%
Avg. amount of Aid
$2,827
Admissions Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate
N/A
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
15
Bowie State University
Bowie, MD
Average in-state tuition
$5,536
No. of online programs
0
% of students in distance education
31%
Avg. amount of Aid
$7,648
Admissions Rate
38.0058485049
Graduation Rate
42
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
16
Chesapeake College
Wye Mills, MD
Average in-state tuition
$4,560
No. of online programs
4
% of students in distance education
52%
Avg. amount of Aid
$3,245
Admissions Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate
N/A
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
17
University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD
Average in-state tuition
$6,876
No. of online programs
6
% of students in distance education
48%
Avg. amount of Aid
$1,933
Admissions Rate
78.3950617284
Graduation Rate
37
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
18
Allegany College of Maryland
Cumberland, MD
Average in-state tuition
$6,990
No. of online programs
15
% of students in distance education
42%
Avg. amount of Aid
$3,489
Admissions Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate
N/A
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
19
Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, MD
Average in-state tuition
$47,520
No. of online programs
1
% of students in distance education
6%
Avg. amount of Aid
$26,677
Admissions Rate
78.7435372159
Graduation Rate
80
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
20
Coppin State University
Baltimore, MD
Average in-state tuition
$4,557
No. of online programs
2
% of students in distance education
43%
Avg. amount of Aid
$7,140
Admissions Rate
38.2066276803
Graduation Rate
24
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
No
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018-19, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

Some of the fastest-growing and most highly concentrated employment sectors in the state include high-tech, education, finance, science, professional/managerial positions and healthcare. Many online programs in Maryland have been developed to align with the state’s employment needs. We’ve used data from the National Center for Education Statistics to compile this list of the top online degree programs in Maryland, to help you find a program that fits your interests and the state’s workplace needs.

Program Name
No. of online programs
Business Administration and Management Degree, General
28
Business/Commerce, General
15
Information Science/Studies
14
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
10
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other
10
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
9
Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance
7
Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping
7
Computer and Information Sciences, General
6
Public Administration
6

Students interested in online degree programs in Maryland should find plenty to choose from. The National Center for Education Statistics says that 37 institutions in Maryland offer majors through distance education. That doesn’t include programs that offer individual online course options.

Not only are school leaders focused on expanding online offerings, but they’re looking to improve the college experience as well. For example, UMUC is the largest online public university in the nation, with more than 90 programs and specializations. UMUC continues to invest in technology that makes accessing online courses — and digital course materials – easier. UMUC also partners with the federal government’s Office of Personnel Management to offer programs that directly address gaps in the federal workforce, helping to streamline the journey from online education to employment.

The roughly 20 community colleges that are member institutions in the Maryland Online program also have made a firm commitment to championing quality, accessible distance education; all of them are required to be licensed by the Maryland Higher Education Commission and accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

The Maryland Higher Learning Commission established the Maryland Ready program as a guide to meeting the state’s education goals and ensuring quality. The plan includes required data collection from all institutions regarding course completion, coursework and degree progress for both face-to-face and online programs, to ensure consistency regardless of delivery method.

With such a resounding commitment to quality from schools and state leaders, prospective students can rest assured they’ll find online schools in Maryland that provide academic quality equal to any other traditional program, with the added benefit of convenience.

So you’ve made the decision to look at online schools in Maryland — but how do you know which program is right for you? Keep these criteria in mind as you evaluate programs:

Does the curriculum align with your goals? Take a good look at the coursework for that program and make sure it lines up with your future goals. For instance, if the program emphasizes theory rather than the hands-on training you need for your preferred line of work, it may not be a good fit. Or if you need to prepare for licensure in Maryland, be sure the program meets the state’s requirements.

How are materials delivered? Some online degree programs in Maryland may include courses that must be done synchronously — in which you log on to the class at appointed days and times and participate live — while others are asynchronous, meaning you can log on at times that are convenient to your schedule. Evaluate your own particular circumstances to determine what you feel is the better fit.

Is location important? Some online programs in Maryland may require you to come to campus for some activities – for instance, completing a proctored exam or attending a conference with an instructor. Some students may appreciate this connection to a physical campus location while others may be too far or too limited by time constraints to visit campus. Take location and the program’s requirements into consideration in order to be sure whether it will work for your life.

How much will it cost? It’s not a good idea to make a decision solely based on cost. This is preparation for your career, so don’t take the cheapest route just to save a few bucks. Look into options for financial aid in Maryland (see below) and at your prospective schools. You may find one emerges as a front runner for its generous financial aid package.

Is it accredited and reputable? Be sure any Maryland school you consider is accredited, to ensure it has met a baseline standard for quality and reputability, and that those credits will be recognized by future graduate schools (if that’s an option for you) or employers. You might talk to people in your chosen field and ask about the reputations of certain programs, or speak to a counselor with a prospective school about the rate of employment of graduates.

Maryland ranks third among states in the Milken Institute’s State Technology and Science Index and sixth in the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation’s State New Economy Index, all because of the state’s large concentration of high-tech, science and research occupations. As home to the National Institutes for Health, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Goddard Space Flight Center, not to mention numerous institutions of higher education where a multitude of research activity takes place, the state’s STEM jobs as well as teaching jobs are growing rapidly. Additionally, the state’s labor market is experiencing a shortage of workers with formalized training in such fields as healthcare, construction and accounting.

Drawing from information provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we’ve come up with this list of the top occupations in Maryland right now, to help you plan an online education that aligns with the state’s greatest employment needs.

Occupation
Number of Workers
Median Salary
Office and Administrative Support Occupations335,790$40,610
Sales and Related Occupations262,540$28,800
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations221,750$24,270
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations206,760$33,020
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations177,330$60,130
Business and Financial Operations Occupations176,770$77,290
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations169,210$75,500
Management Occupations169,170$119,330
Computer and Mathematical Occupations133,600$99,750
Construction and Extraction Occupations120,930$47,630
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations103,700$50,720
Healthcare Support Occupations97,740$30,680
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations86,510$28,830
Production Occupations80,350$37,620
Cashiers79,280$23,720
Personal Care and Service Occupations76,990$25,880
Protective Service Occupations73,260$47,040
Retail Salespersons68,970$24,770
Fast Food and Counter Workers62,810$23,780
Architecture and Engineering Occupations59,750$94,400

Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov.

The Maryland Higher Education Commission has developed a comprehensive financial aid system that allows the state to process state scholarship applications efficiently. The Maryland College Aid Processing System, or MDCAPS, allows students to create profiles online, then apply for scholarship programs, check a to-do list, check application statuses, accept or decline awards, transfer or add schools and more, all from this convenient, one-stop shop.

Through MDCAPS, you also can submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, to determine whether you are eligible for federal student aid dollars, in the form of a Pell Grant or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (a need-based federal grant award) or other program, such as a Stafford loan (which would need to be repaid after graduation).

Additionally, the state offers several grant and scholarship opportunities, including the following:

The MHEC also offers legislative scholarships awarded by state delegates or senators, as well as several career/occupation-based grants and scholarships, grants/scholarships/tuition waivers for specialized populations and loan-assistance repayment programs for certain eligible students. Explore the MHEC’s Financial Aid website to learn more about these specific programs.

Every school and program differs and may offer their own unique grants or scholarships that you also should look into. Additionally, you may belong to membership organizations that offer their own college funding options as well.

Scholarship Listing

This list provides additional information on scholarships and grants available to eligible Maryland students.

Source: Scholarship directory data is copyrighted material which is reproduced on this website by permission of CollegeXpress, a division of Carnegie Dartlet. Copyright © 2020 by CollegeXpress.

Though there is no single test that all online colleges in Maryland require for admission, most have some requirement for submitting test scores as part of the application process. In fact, as Maryland’s leaders continue working to streamline the college application process and widen access to colleges here, school districts around the state are joining the growing trend of administer college admissions tests to high school juniors at no charge.

Some colleges don’t require these tests at all, while many take one or the other. Tests can be taken repeatedly and you can have all scores sent to prospective colleges (which usually take either an average score or the highest of those submitted).

  • SAT Reasoning Test: The test is split into three portions: evidence-based reading and writing, math and essay.
  • SAT Subject Tests: These tests assess mastery of English, math, history, science or foreign language. Students may be required to take three of the tests for admission to a specific school.
  • ACT: This exam measures achievement in English, math, reading and science, as well as an optional writing test.

Depending on your goals and particular circumstances — for instance, whether you’re transferring schools, speak English as a second language or hope to receive college credit for prior coursework or work experience — you may also be asked to take additional tests. And, of course, your chosen program may require its own placement or achievement test score as well. Be sure to speak with an admissions counselor about your chosen program’s requirements.

See Methodology Information Here
Sources

  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018-19, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/
    • 2016 State Technology and Science Index: Sustaining America’s Innovation Economy, by Ross DeVol, Joe Lee, and MinoliRatnatunga, Milken Institute Center for Jobs and Human Capital, accessed June 9, 2018, https://assets1b.milkeninstitute.org/assets/Publication/ResearchReport/PDF/State-Technology-and-Science-Index-2016.pdf
    • “America’s Most (And Least) Educated States,” 24/7 Wall St., Contributor, Huffington Post, Sept. 17, 2016,https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/americas-most-and-least-educated-states_us_57dc22f2e4b053b1ccf2990f
    • “Hiring Outlook brightens for college graduates,” by Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore Sun, May 20, 2017, http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-college-grad-hiring-20170520-story/
    • “It’s Official: Maryland Community Colleges to Offer Free Tuition in 2019,” by Associated Press, NBC Washington, May 8, 2018, https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Gov-Hogan-Signs-Bill-to-Offer-Free-Community-College-Tuition-482105591/
    • Maryland at a Glance: Economy, Maryland Manual On-Line, State of Maryland, April 24, 2018, https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/economy/html/economy/
    • Maryland at a Glance: Economy – Employment, Maryland Manual On-Line, State of Maryland, April 24, 2018,https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/economy/html/employ/#tech
    • Maryland Facts, State of Maryland Tourism, accessed June 9, 2018, https://www.visitmaryland.org/info/maryland-facts
    • The 2017 State New Economy Index: Benchmarking Economic Transformation in the States, by Robert D. Atkinson and J. John Wu, Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, November 2017, http://www2.itif.org/2017-state-new-economy-index.pdf?_ga=2.41964967.361852342.1524579533-1919318266.1524579533
    • “The Great Out-of-State Migration: Where Students Go,” by Nick Strayer, The New York Times, Aug. 26, 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/08/26/us/college-student-migration/
    • “The Fastest-Growing Job in Each State – 2018 Edition,” by Derek Miller, SmartAsset, April 25, 2018, https://smartasset.com/retirement/fastest-growing-job-in-each-state-2018
    • “University of Maryland University College Enrollment Increases Hit Historic Highs,” by Bob Ludwig, UMUC Global Media Center, December 4, 2017,https://globalmedia.umuc.edu/2017/12/04/university-of-maryland-university-college-enrollment-increases-hit-historic-highs/
    • Maryland Ready, 2013-2017 Maryland State Plan for Postsecondary Education, accessed June 9, 2018, http://mhec.maryland.gov/Documents/MHECStatePlan_2014.pdf
    • About Maryland Online, accessed June 9, 2018,http://www.marylandonline.org/about
    • Why Choose UMUC?, University of Maryland University College, accessed June 11, 2018,http://www.umuc.edu/about/why-choose-umuc.cfm
    • “9 tips for choosing the best online instructional design certificate program,” Online Instructional Design Certificate Programs: The Ultimate Guide, accessed June 11, 2018,https://idhunter.com/online-instructional-design-certificate-programs/
    • “Jobs in services, computers, health care biggest gainers in Maryland since the Great Recession,” by Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore Sun, September 3, 2017, http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/jobs/bs-bz-maryland-labor-market-20170831-story/
    • State Financial Assistance Programs & Applications, Maryland Higher Education Commission, accessed June 11, 2018, http://www.mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/Pages/FinancialAid/descriptions.aspx
    • What is MDCAPS?, Maryland Higher Education Commission, accessed June 11, 2018,http://www.mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/Pages/FinancialAid/osfamdcapslive.aspx
    • Know Your Tests: College Entrance Exams, Fastweb!, July 17, 2017, https://www.fastweb.com/college-search/articles/know-your-tests-college-entrance-exams
    • “More high schools offer free college admission testing. But there’s a catch.” By Nick Anderson, March 17, 2018, The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/more-high-schools-offer-free-college-admission-testing-but-theres-a-catch/2018/03/17/dbe6b91c-27b5-11e8-b79d-f3d931db7f68_story/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.8c6ae7bbb72d
Methodologies and Sources