Top 10 Private Colleges in Maryland
Curated by Kory White · Fractional CRO, CRO SyndicateTop 10 Private Colleges in Maryland
Direct Answer
The Best Overall private college in Maryland is Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, a global research powerhouse whose medicine, public health, engineering, and international-studies programs rank among the best in the world, backed by need-blind admission and no-loan aid.
The Best Value pick is Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, a Jesuit institution that pairs strong undergraduate teaching and high graduation rates with generous aid, delivering an excellent private education at a net price well below the elite research universities. This list is built for students and families weighing where to enroll across Maryland, with a focus on academics, outcomes, and fit.
Every pick uses real, publicly reported data from U.S. News, Niche, the College Scorecard, and individual college sources.
How We Ranked the Top 10
We weighted each college against the priorities families actually care about, drawing on published figures from U.S. News, Niche, the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, and IPEDS. The weighting:
- Academic performance and selectivity - 25%
- Graduation and post-grad outcomes - 20%
- Value, aid, and cost - 15%
- Faculty and resources - 15%
- Campus environment and safety - 15%
- Programs and fit - 10%
A college that posts elite selectivity but graduates few students, or wins on reputation but loads families with debt, drops fast. The winners balance all six.
1. Johns Hopkins University 🏆 BEST OVERALL
Type: Private Research University | Tuition: About $63,000 (before aid) | Best for: Students seeking elite research, medicine, and engineering
Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, the nation's first research university, enrolls roughly 6,000 undergraduates and is consistently ranked among the very top universities in the world. Hopkins is need-blind for domestic applicants and meets 100% of demonstrated need with no loans.
It posts a six-year graduation rate near 94%, an acceptance rate around 7%, and globally elite programs in medicine, public health, biomedical engineering, and international studies (SAIS). Undergraduate research access is exceptional.
Pros:
- Need-blind admission with no-loan aid packages
- Six-year graduation rate near 94%
- World-leading medicine, public health, and engineering
- Unmatched undergraduate research access
Cons:
- Extremely competitive admission
- Intense, pre-professional academic culture
Verdict: Johns Hopkins wins on balance - world-class research and outcomes with no-loan aid.
2. Loyola University Maryland 💎 BEST VALUE
Type: Private Jesuit University | Tuition: About $52,000 (before aid) | Best for: Families wanting strong teaching and outcomes with generous aid
Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore enrolls roughly 4,000 undergraduates and is a leading Jesuit institution known for undergraduate teaching, business, and the sciences. Loyola posts a graduation rate near 85%, strong career and graduate-school outcomes, and meaningful merit and need-based aid that lowers the net price well below the sticker.
Its emphasis on small classes, mentorship, and service makes it the standout outcomes-per-dollar private choice in the state.
Pros:
- Strong undergraduate teaching and mentorship
- Graduation rate near 85% with solid outcomes
- Generous merit and need-based aid
- Respected Sellinger business school
Cons:
- Less research scale than Hopkins
- Jesuit affiliation suits a specific family
Verdict: The value champion - strong teaching, outcomes, and aid at a manageable net price.
3. Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
Type: Private Art and Design College | Tuition: About $54,000 (before aid) | Best for: Students pursuing a top professional art and design degree
The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore is one of the oldest and most respected art and design colleges in the country, enrolling roughly 1,700 undergraduates. MICA offers leading BFA and MFA programs in graphic design, illustration, painting, animation, and more, with strong studio facilities and a vibrant Baltimore arts community.
For serious art and design students, it is Maryland's premier specialized choice.
Pros:
- Top-ranked professional art and design programs
- Strong BFA and MFA studio offerings
- Vibrant Baltimore arts community
- Excellent studio facilities
Cons:
- Narrow, arts-only focus
- High cost for a specialized degree
Verdict: The premier art and design college in Maryland - professional studio training at the highest level.
4. McDaniel College
Type: Private Liberal Arts College | Tuition: About $50,000 (before aid) | Best for: Students wanting a personal liberal-arts experience
McDaniel College in Westminster enrolls roughly 1,600 undergraduates and offers a strong, personal liberal-arts education with a distinctive interdisciplinary curriculum and a well-known graduate education program. McDaniel posts solid graduation rates, generous merit aid, and small classes with close faculty mentorship.
Its flexible curriculum and supportive culture appeal to students seeking individual attention.
Pros:
- Personal liberal-arts experience with small classes
- Distinctive interdisciplinary curriculum
- Generous merit aid
- Strong graduate education programs
Cons:
- Smaller endowment and resources
- Less national name recognition
Verdict: A strong personal liberal-arts choice - close mentorship and a flexible curriculum.
5. Goucher College
Type: Private Liberal Arts College | Tuition: About $50,000 (before aid) | Best for: Students wanting a study-abroad-focused liberal-arts education
Goucher College in Towson enrolls roughly 1,000 undergraduates and is known for requiring study abroad for every student, a distinctive global focus among U.S. Liberal-arts colleges. Goucher offers small classes, a flexible interdisciplinary curriculum, and generous aid, with strengths in international relations, biology, and the arts on a green suburban campus near Baltimore.
Pros:
- Required study-abroad experience for all students
- Small classes and interdisciplinary curriculum
- Generous financial aid
- Green campus near Baltimore
Cons:
- Small scale limits program breadth
- Modest endowment
Verdict: The global liberal-arts standout - a guaranteed study-abroad experience for every student.
6. Stevenson University
Type: Private Career-Focused University | Tuition: About $40,000 (before aid) | Best for: Students wanting career-ready professional programs
Stevenson University in Owings Mills and Stevenson enrolls roughly 2,800 undergraduates and focuses on career-ready professional programs in nursing, business, forensics, film, and the health sciences. With a lower sticker tuition than the elite privates, strong internship integration, and solid regional employment outcomes, Stevenson is a practical choice for students prioritizing direct career preparation.
Pros:
- Career-focused professional programs
- Strong nursing, business, and forensics offerings
- Lower sticker tuition than elite privates
- Strong internship integration
Cons:
- Less selective and lower national profile
- Modest research opportunities
Verdict: The career-prep value pick - professional programs with strong internships at a lower price.
7. Mount St. Mary's University
Type: Private Catholic University | Tuition: About $46,000 (before aid) | Best for: Families wanting a values-based Catholic education
Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg enrolls roughly 2,000 undergraduates and is one of the oldest Catholic universities in the country, set on a scenic mountainside campus. The university offers strong business, education, and pre-professional programs, a values-based community, and generous aid.
Its close-knit culture and Catholic mission appeal to families seeking a faith-centered education.
Pros:
- Historic Catholic university with values-based mission
- Strong business and pre-professional programs
- Generous merit and need-based aid
- Scenic, close-knit campus
Cons:
- Religious affiliation suits a specific family
- Rural Emmitsburg location
Verdict: A leading Catholic choice in Maryland - a values-centered education with strong professional programs.
8. Hood College
Type: Private College | Tuition: About $46,000 (before aid) | Best for: Students wanting a personal college near Washington and Baltimore
Hood College in Frederick enrolls roughly 1,100 undergraduates and offers a personal, supportive education with strengths in the sciences, business, and education, plus growing graduate programs. Positioned between Washington and Baltimore, Hood provides internship access, small classes, and generous aid, making it a solid choice for students wanting individual attention near major job markets.
Pros:
- Personal, supportive small-college experience
- Strong sciences, business, and education programs
- Internship access near D.C. And Baltimore
- Generous financial aid
Cons:
- Small scale limits some program depth
- Lower national recognition
Verdict: A solid personal college choice - close attention with strong regional internship access.
9. Notre Dame of Maryland University
Type: Private Catholic University | Tuition: About $42,000 (before aid) | Best for: Students wanting a values-based education with strong nursing and pharmacy
Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore enrolls roughly 1,500 students and is a historically women's Catholic institution now offering coeducational and graduate programs, with notable strengths in nursing and pharmacy. Its school of pharmacy and respected nursing programs provide clear professional pathways, paired with a values-based community and generous aid.
Pros:
- Strong nursing and school of pharmacy
- Values-based Catholic community
- Clear health-professional pathways
- Generous financial aid
Cons:
- Smaller undergraduate scale
- Religious affiliation suits a specific family
Verdict: The health-professions choice - strong nursing and pharmacy in a values-based setting.
10. Washington College
Type: Private Liberal Arts College | Tuition: About $52,000 (before aid) | Best for: Students wanting a historic liberal-arts college on the Chesapeake
Washington College in Chestertown, founded in 1782, enrolls roughly 1,000 undergraduates and is one of the oldest liberal-arts colleges in the nation. Set on the Chesapeake Bay's Eastern Shore, it offers strong programs in the humanities, environmental science, and creative writing, anchored by the renowned Sophie Kerr Prize, the largest undergraduate literary award in the country.
Small classes and generous aid round out a distinctive experience.
Pros:
- Historic liberal-arts college founded in 1782
- Renowned creative writing and Sophie Kerr Prize
- Strong environmental science on the Chesapeake
- Small classes and generous aid
Cons:
- Remote Eastern Shore location
- Small scale limits program breadth
Verdict: A historic liberal-arts gem - distinctive writing and environmental programs on the Chesapeake.
Which One's Right for You?
What to Look For When Choosing a Private College
- Graduation and outcome rates - A college that graduates most students on time and places them in jobs or grad school signals real value, not just selectivity.
- Aid policy and net price - No-loan schools like Johns Hopkins, and generous-aid schools like Loyola, can cost less out of pocket than a cheaper sticker price elsewhere; always check net price.
- Program fit - Art at MICA, health professions at Notre Dame of Maryland, or career prep at Stevenson may serve a specific student far better than a higher overall ranking.
- Class size and faculty access - Maryland's smaller colleges offer close mentorship; verify student-faculty ratios and advising support.
- Location and internships - Proximity to Baltimore and Washington shapes internship and job access; Hood, Loyola, and Stevenson benefit from the corridor.
- Campus environment - Urban Baltimore, suburban Towson, and rural Chestertown offer very different experiences; visit before committing.
What matters less than marketing implies: a college's national ranking number, its newest building, or its sticker price alone. Fit, aid, and faculty mentorship affect a student's outcome far more than a single headline figure.
FAQ
Which private college is the best overall in Maryland? Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore earns the top spot for its world-leading research, need-blind admission, no-loan aid, and graduation rate near 94%.
What is the best value private college in Maryland? Loyola University Maryland is our best value - it pairs strong undergraduate teaching and a graduation rate near 85% with generous aid, lowering the net price well below the elite research universities.
Which Maryland private college is best for art and design? The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore is the premier choice, with top-ranked BFA and MFA programs and strong studio facilities.
Do Maryland's top private colleges offer good financial aid? Yes. Johns Hopkins is need-blind and meets full demonstrated need with no loans, while Loyola, McDaniel, and Goucher offer generous merit and need-based aid that lowers net price.
Which Maryland private college is best for health professions? Notre Dame of Maryland University stands out with a school of pharmacy and respected nursing programs, while Stevenson University offers strong nursing and health-sciences pathways.
What if I want a study-abroad-focused liberal-arts college in Maryland? Goucher College in Towson requires study abroad for every student, the most distinctive global focus among Maryland liberal-arts colleges.
Bottom Line
For Maryland students, Johns Hopkins University is our Best Overall private college - its world-class research, need-blind admission, and near-94% graduation rate set the standard. Loyola University Maryland is our Best Value, pairing strong teaching and outcomes with generous aid at a manageable net price.
If your priority is art and design, health professions, career prep, or a distinctive liberal-arts experience, use the decision tree above to route yourself to MICA, Notre Dame of Maryland, Stevenson, or Goucher and Washington College instead. Choose on program fit, net price, and outcomes - not a single ranking number - and you will be set up to succeed.
Sources
- U.S. News - Best Colleges in Maryland
- Niche - Best Private Colleges in Maryland
- U.S. Department of Education - College Scorecard
- IPEDS - Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
- Johns Hopkins University
- Loyola University Maryland
- Maryland Institute College of Art
- Goucher College
- McDaniel College
- Washington College
*Private colleges in Maryland review - best private colleges Maryland, rankings, ratings, and a review of the top picks for students and families.*