Business Schools in Maryland

    Surrounding much of Chesapeake Bay in the country’s Mid-Atlantic region, Maryland is often associated with the sea; it has a substantial commercial fishery and is especially famous for its large annual catch of blue crab. But go a little west of the ocean, past the two large metropolitan regions of Baltimore and Washington, DC, and you’ll find very different parts of Maryland. The long, thin stretch of land just south of the Mason-Dixon line takes you from the Atlantic basin, through the Piedmont plateau, and into the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. Maryland is also a state rich in culture and history: one of the original 13 colonies is sometimes considered the birthplace of religious freedom in America. Its economy is diverse, including fishing, as mentioned earlier, agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing, supported by a large public sector due to the state’s proximity to Washington DC. The state is also a leader in the burgeoning biotechnology field.

    National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) statistics show 24 public and non-profit institutions offering business degrees. A vast proportion of these, 19, offers accredited programs at the undergraduate level, but only nine at the graduate level. Choosing an accredited school provides you with the assurance that the program you select has clearly stated objectives and that the school has proven that its program produces quality outcomes while adhering to national and international standards. Accredited schools also typically offer ways to get real-world experience through interaction with actual businesses.

    All of the schools in this article have been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). They are all public or non-profit and regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

    In this article, you’ll find all the data you need to choose the ideal Maryland business school for your needs based on various key factors: tuition, financial aid, entrance exam scores, acceptance rates, and more. The three sections that follow describe undergraduate programs, graduate schools, and the job prospects for business school graduates in Maryland.

    Best Business Schools in Maryland

    Following are the best business schools in Maryland according to US News & World Report data:

    • University of Maryland – College Park – #40 in Best Business Schools, #9 in Information Systems, #63 in Top National Universities, #33 in Best Colleges for Veterans, #22 in Top Public Schools
    • Johns Hopkins University #10 in Top National Universities, 18 in Best Value Schools, #18 in Most Innovative Schools
    • University of Maryland – Baltimore – #87 in Top Public Schools, #9 in Most Innovative Schools
    • University of Baltimore – #113 in Best Online MBA Programs, #55 in Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans
    • Frostburg State University – #126 in Best Regional Universities North, #40 in Top Public Schools, #123 in Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, #131 in Best Online MBA Programs

    Undergraduate Business Schools in Maryland

    Given its relatively small size, Maryland offers a surprisingly wide variety of undergraduate business school options, with one of the broadest tuition cost ranges of any state. The overall average undergraduate tuition cost in Maryland is about $17,300, which is moderate. The most expensive schools are Johns Hopkins University ($50,400) and Loyola University Maryland ($46,400), while the least costly, Baltimore City Community College, costs just $2,600. The schools are essentially split into two groups by cost, with 13 at or near $10,000 and five at $33,000 or more, while one sort of falls in the middle (Capitol Technology University at $24,300). Average financial aid is a respectable $11,200.

    We have acceptance rates for 15 of our 19 schools, and they are mostly moderate. The overall average is 56%, but this is weighed down by Johns Hopkins’ 13%, without which the number climbs to 59%, with no other school below 38%. There are nine schools at 60% or higher, and three above 70%.

    Graduation rates for undergraduate business degrees in Maryland tend to be low to moderate, with almost as much variation as tuition. The overall average for the 18 schools for which we have data is slightly over 50%, below the figure found in most states. The highest graduation rate is at Johns Hopkins (92.4%), while there are three schools below 20%: Coppin State University (17.4%), Baltimore City Community College (13%), and the University of Maryland University College (10.4%). The two best combinations of acceptance rate and graduation rate can be found at Loyola University Maryland (66% and 83% respectively) and Towson University (74% and 71%).

    The table below shows you all the vital data you need about undergraduate business schools in Maryland, including annual in-state tuition costs, average aid per student, acceptance rates, SAT and ACT score ranges of accepted students, and graduation rates. Click any column header to sort the table based on its contents.

    SchoolCityTuitionAidMedian SATMedian ACTAccept. RateGrad. Rate
    Baltimore City Community CollegeBaltimore$2,578$2,98113%
    Bowie State UniversityBowie$7,880$7,388780-94015-1941%37%
    Capitol Technology UniversityLaurel$24,272$12,269860-116019-2688%51%
    College of Southern MarylandLa Plata$6,288$3,80138%
    Coppin State UniversityBaltimore$7,438$7,515760-91015-1840%17%
    Frostburg State UniversityFrostburg$8,702$6,836860-107018-2463%47%
    Hood CollegeFrederick$36,540$21,69071%65%
    Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore$50,410$34,6321400-157032-3413%92%
    Loyola University MarylandBaltimore$46,430$25,84866%83%
    Morgan State UniversityBaltimore$7,636$7,675810-99016-2060%32%
    Mount St. Mary’s UniversityEmmitsburg$39,000$21,169940-116019-2462%71%
    Salisbury UniversitySalisbury$9,364$5,14866%69%
    Stevenson UniversityStevenson$33,168$16,248910-113019-2561%53%
    Community College of Baltimore County-EssexBaltimore$6,812$3,622
    Towson UniversityTowson$9,408$7,959980-116021-2574%71%
    University of BaltimoreBaltimore$8,596$4,552810-103020-2149%36%
    University of MarylandCollege Park$10,181$9,0741210-142029-3348%87%
    University of Maryland Eastern ShorePrincess Anne$7,804$8,097790-95017-2038%36%
    University of Maryland University CollegeAdelphi$7,176$7,16210%
    Southwest Baptist UniversityBolivar$22,508$12,240860-110019-2590%46%
    Three Rivers CollegePoplar Bluff$5,190$4,344
    Truman State UniversityKirksville$7,456$7,8641070-133024-3068%72%
    University of Central MissouriWarrensburg$7,342$5,75420-2575%53%
    University of MissouriColumbia$9,518$8,5611020-129023-2975%68%
    University of MissouriKansas City$7,846$7,217980-130021-2862%48%
    University of MissouriSt. Louis$9,590$12,471532-61221-2776%79%
    Washington University in St. LouisSt. Louis$49,770$31,9071400-157032-3417%94%
    William Woods UniversityFulton$23,040$14,823860-112019-2570%54%

    Graduate Business Schools in Maryland

    We have data for nine accredited colleges for master’s level business study in Maryland. Once again, here we see a wide distribution: the overall average is about $40,000, but there’s only one school with tuition near that number, Loyola University Maryland, at $38,870. Two schools are well above it (Johns Hopkins at nearly $110,000 and the University of Maryland at $89,000) while the remaining six are all below $32,000, and five of those below $22,000. The least expensive school is Salisbury University at just over $13,000.

    There are five accredited online MBA programs in Maryland to choose from if you want to get a master’s degree while keeping your career going. Towson University offers a case-oriented online MBA program that can be completed in less than two years and offers eight specializations plus the option to create a custom program. Frostburg State University’s program is ranked as one of the most affordable online MBA programs and is modeled after its in-class MBA. Online MBAs are also offered by Salisbury University, the University of Baltimore, and the University of Maryland (which also offers a dual degree program).

    Popular graduate programs in Maryland: Online MBA Programs in Advertising | Online MBA Programs in Economics | Online MBA Programs in Forensic Accounting

    The table below shows graduate business school tuition costs, average accepted applicant GMAT scores, the percentage of faculty with a doctorate, and student-to-faculty ratios. Click any column header to sort the table based on its contents.

    SchoolCityTuitionAvg. GMATFaculty
    with Doct.
    Degree
    Student/
    Faculty
    Bowie State UniversityBowie$19,260
    Frostburg State UniversityFrostburg$17,56885%0.82
    Hood CollegeFrederick$21,780
    Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore$109,50065487%8.74
    Loyola University MarylandBaltimore$38,87053077%0.58
    Morgan State UniversityBaltimore$18,504425
    Salisbury UniversitySalisbury$13,08080%0.54
    University of BaltimoreBaltimore$31,60089%2.22
    University of MarylandCollege Park$89,11067788%6.11

    Job Outlook for Business School Graduates in Maryland

    Total growth of at least 5% is predicted in 32 of 37 business and management occupations across the US between 2016 and 2026, according to recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.5 The highest growth is predicted for market analysts and marketing specialists, at 22.8% over ten years, with financial managers next at 18.7%.5

    Maryland’s economy has consistently outperformed that of the nation over the last several decades, including a notably smaller unemployment peak due to the Great Recession. While the nation hit 10% in late 2009, Maryland peaked at just 7.8%. This may be because of the state’s location near the nation’s capital—public sector jobs tend to be less subject to economic cycles than private-sector jobs. The state’s current unemployment rate is 4.3%, a slight increase from 4.0% in late 2017, but still quite low. About 240,000 people were employed in the business and management sector in Maryland in 2016.6 The largest subgroup was general and operations managers, with 47,360 employed, nearly double accountants and auditors (26,230), and business operations specialists (21,610).6 All other categories were below 20,000, and most below 10,000.6

    Popular Articles: Accounting Schools in Maryland | MBA Programs in Maryland

    BLS data shows the overall average annual wage in 2016 across all Maryland occupations as $78,945, ranking the state #1 in the nation, more than $20,000 higher than the national average.6 Business and management occupations had a weighted average annual salary of around $106,000 that year, which gives Maryland one of the lowest differentials between business salaries and overall average salary.6 Chief executives led that way with an average salary of $192,400, followed by 14 management careers paying between $100,000 and $150,000.6 The lowest-paid group, credit counselors, earned $45,490.6

    Occupation TitleBLS.gov
    Code
    2016
    Total
    Employment
    Maryland
    Mean
    Hourly
    Wage
    Maryland
    Mean
    Annual
    Wage
    Maryland
    National
    Growth
    2016-26
    Accountants and Auditors13-201126,230$39$80,93010.0%
    Administrative Services Managers11-30115,010$55$114,84010.1%
    Advertising and Promotions Managers11-2011490$55$114,3805.8%
    Agents and Managers of Artists and Athletes13-1011180$29$59,6404.9%
    Architectural and Engineering Managers11-90415,060$69$144,1405.5%
    Budget Analysts13-20312,350$41$86,0006.5%
    Business Operations Specialists13-119921,610$43$90,0608.8%
    Chief Executives11-10111,670$92$192,3608.0%
    Compensation and Benefits Managers11-3111380$71$146,9005.0%
    Compensation and Job Analysis Specialists13-11411,780$37$77,6308.5%
    Compliance Officers13-10417,510$37$76,0008.2%
    Construction Managers11-90216,410$52$107,73011.4%
    Cost Estimators13-10514,610$34$71,13010.6%
    Credit Analysts13-20411,300$33$68,3808.4%
    Credit Counselors13-2071650$22$45,49013.9%
    Financial Analysts13-20516,260$47$97,12010.8%
    Financial Examiners13-2061610$39$80,2309.8%
    Financial Managers11-303112,230$72$148,9900.187
    Operations Managers11-102147,360$65$136,0809.1%
    Human Resources Managers11-31212,390$66$138,0508.9%
    Human Resources Specialists13-107112,140$36$74,7807.1%
    Information Systems Managers11-30219,920$72$150,54011.9%
    Insurance Underwriters13-20531,500$39$81,460-5.2%
    Labor Relations Specialists13-10751,380$33$67,770-7.8%
    Loan Officers13-20724,860$39$80,15011.5%
    Logisticians13-10814,910$44$90,9106.9%
    Management Analysts13-111118,050$47$96,81012.0%
    Market Research and Marketing Specialists13-116110,420$32$66,12022.8%
    Marketing Managers11-20213,560$74$153,08010.0%
    Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners13-11212,830$27$56,24010.2%
    Public Relations and Fundraising Managers11-20311,470$58$120,24010.4%
    Purchasing Managers11-30611,640$64$133,4305.6%
    Sales Managers11-20225,870$74$153,3907.4%
    Tax Examiners and Revenue Agents13-2081580$29$61,310-0.6%
    Tax Preparers13-20821,010$26$53,56010.8%
    Training and Development Managers11-31311,140$63$130,63010.3%
    Training and Development Specialists13-11517,060$32$67,36011.5%

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    References:
    1. National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/
    2. AACSB, Best Business Schools: https://bestbizschools.aacsb.edu/aacsb-accredited
    3. ACBSP, Business Schools: https://acbsp.org/page/accreditation-overview
    4. IACBE, Business Schools: https://iacbe.org/accreditation/
    5. US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Outlook Handbook, Business and Financial Occupations: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm
    6. US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Employment and Wage Estimates: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_md.htm
    7. Maryland Higher Education Commission: https://www.mhec.state.md.us/Pages/default.aspx
    8. US News & World Report, Best Business Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools