Colleges in Maryland: Universities, Trade and Technical Schools

Maryland Colleges Summary

Students in Maryland have many different options when it comes to higher education.

The University System of Maryland is the public system for higher education in the state. It's comprised of 12 institutions and two regional education centers. In the fall of 2016, more than 304,000 students were enrolled in the statewide system. The state also has 16 open-admissions community colleges that operate jointly under the Maryland Association of Community Colleges.

There are 22 accredited private four-year colleges and universities in Maryland, as well as more than 150 private career and technical schools.

Maryland also is home to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. Each year, more than 4,000 midshipmen enroll in the academy to pursue Bachelor of Science degrees before beginning five years of military service.

Online Education in Maryland

Maryland students whose busy lives prevent them from getting to campus regularly still can get access to Maryland colleges through the wide range of online certificate and degree programs offered through Maryland Online, a 20-institution consortium of Maryland colleges and universities. The program, launched in fall of 1999, includes both community colleges and four-year state universities.

Improving Access to Higher Education for Maryland Students

Maryland is a member of the Academic Common Market, which offers students in-state tuition rates for out-of-state programs in 15 states. Students must be pursuing bachelor's degree programs that are not offered at colleges in their home state.

Students interested in learning more about postsecondary education in Maryland can visit the Maryland Higher Education Commission web page.

Sources:

• Maryland at a Glance, Maryland.gov, Accessed March 2018, http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/edhigh.html
• Maryland Association of Community Colleges, Accessed March 2018, https://mdacc.org/the-colleges/
• University System of Maryland, Accessed March 2018, http://www.usmd.edu/