University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, Maryland · Public · 44.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 94/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Maryland-College Park scores 94 (Exceptional Value) on the CampusROI scale. The data case is strong: $50,100 median 6-year earnings, 88.6% completion rate, 4.2-year payback period, median debt of $19,000, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.379. In-state tuition of $11,809 and a net price of $15,678 make this one of the most efficient large research universities in the country relative to outcomes. Computer Science (873 graduates, $99,756 year-one, $137,931 year-four) and Computer Engineering (104 graduates, $95,847 year-one, $152,422 year-four) are top performers nationally. Management Sciences (121 graduates, $72,304 year-one, $111,649 year-four) and Finance (415 graduates, $75,689 year-one, $110,648 year-four) give the business college strong anchors. Information Science (661 graduates, $70,344 year-one, $109,092 year-four) is among the largest high-earning programs in the dataset. At 30,760 enrolled, Maryland is large enough to offer genuine breadth across engineering, business, public policy, and the sciences. The proximity to Washington, D.C., is a structural advantage for students entering government, consulting, intelligence, and nonprofits - outcomes the Scorecard captures only partially. The 88.6% completion rate at a public flagship is above average for the sector.
The median graduate earns $82,860 ten years after entry - well above the national median of roughly $55,000 for 4-year college graduates.
University of Maryland-College Park
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,809/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $41,186/yr |
| Average net price | $15,678/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $62,712 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $82,860 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $50,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $201 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 88.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 30,760 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $11,809/year ($41,186/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $15,678/year, or roughly $62,712 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $2,962/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,691/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $19,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $201 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $82,860 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.38, comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $2,962 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,051 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,273 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,250 |
| $110,001+ | $26,691 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $2,962 per year - among the lowest net prices at any flagship research university in this dataset. Four years at $2,962 totals $11,848, which is less than two months of median year-one CS earnings. For low-income students who gain admission and qualify for maximum aid, Maryland represents one of the best investments in American public higher education. The 88.6% completion rate means most students who start will finish.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $10,273 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $18,250. Both are very reasonable for a flagship research university with $50,100 median six-year earnings. Middle-income families in Maryland paying in-state rates with these aid levels face a total four-year cost of $41,092-$73,000 - a strong value by any measure.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $26,691 per year for in-state students, totaling $106,764 over four years. For CS, engineering, or finance students, this is repaid in roughly 1-2 years of working. For out-of-state families, the $41,186 tuition produces a very different cost structure - out-of-state full-pay at Maryland is still competitive with many private universities but requires the higher earnings programs to justify.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Maryland-College Park with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $137,931 | A |
| Information Science | $109,092 | B+ |
| Biology | $64,867 | C |
| Psychology | $57,575 | C |
| Public Health | $72,328 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $110,648 | B+ |
| Political Science and Government | $67,258 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $100,003 | B+ |
| International Relations | $74,437 | B |
| Economics | $83,880 | B+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science at Maryland is among the strongest ROI programs in this entire dataset: 873 graduates, $99,756 year-one, $137,931 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.200 (ROI grade A). Median debt of $20,000 against nearly $100,000 year-one earnings means the debt is recovered in less than three months of post-tax income. Maryland's CS program has a national reputation; graduates place at major tech firms, federal agencies, and financial services companies. For in-state students, this is a top-ten value in the country.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering (104 graduates) earns $95,847 year-one and $152,422 year-four - the highest four-year figure among Maryland's reported programs. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.216 (ROI grade A). The trajectory from $95k to $152k at year four reflects strong career progression into senior technical or management roles. Median debt of $20,695 is low relative to this earnings profile. This program rivals the output of top-10 engineering schools on a per-graduate basis.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (415 graduates) earns $75,689 year-one and $110,648 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.258 (ROI grade B+). The Smith School of Business pipeline into Washington, D.C., financial services, consulting, and government contracting supports these outcomes. Median debt of $19,500 is very manageable. For in-state students, this is among the best finance programs by cost-to-outcome ratio in the Mid-Atlantic.
Information Science
Information Science (661 graduates) earns $70,344 year-one and $109,092 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.287 (ROI grade B+). This is one of the largest high-earning programs in the Scorecard dataset - 661 graduates with $70k year-one earnings is a genuine labor market signal, not a small-sample artifact. Maryland's iSchool feeds into data analytics, cybersecurity, and information management roles at federal agencies and defense contractors as well as private tech.
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Aerospace Engineering (142 graduates) earns $78,631 year-one and $98,044 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.286 (ROI grade B+). Maryland's proximity to NASA Goddard, the DoD, and federal aerospace contractors creates a specialized pipeline that supports these outcomes. Median debt of $22,500 at $78k year-one is a 0.29 ratio - comfortable. For students interested in aerospace or defense, Maryland's location is a direct career advantage.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 83.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 85.5% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 83.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 84.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Maryland-College Park’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 44.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 710-780 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 690-750 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 32-35 |
| Enrollment | 30,760 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 19.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $17,205 |
At 44.8%, Maryland is moderately to highly selective. SAT 710-780 Math and 690-750 Reading, ACT 32-35, describe the middle half. The competitive programs (CS, Engineering, Smith School of Business) have higher internal bars than the institutional average. In-state students who can access the in-state tuition rate of $11,809 face one of the most favorable cost-outcome ratios in the country; out-of-state tuition of $41,186 shifts the calculus significantly.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Maryland's Scorecard peers include University of California-Davis, University of Washington-Seattle, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, and University of Baltimore. The peer research universities (UC Davis, UW, UIUC) all score in the 88-95 ROI range. Maryland's 94 is competitive with UIUC (approximately 93) and UW (approximately 91). Maryland's Computer Engineering four-year earnings of $152,422 are among the highest for any public university in this peer group. The DC location gives it unique advantages in government, policy, and defense that California-focused schools cannot replicate.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland-College Park (this school) | 94 | $15,678 | $82,860 |
| University of California-Davis | 95 | $14,741 | $80,838 |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | 94 | $14,091 | $78,466 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 93 | $14,355 | $81,054 |
| University of Baltimore | 64 | $13,868 | $61,335 |
| Bowie State University | 40 | $19,298 | $54,537 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Maryland-College Park side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Maryland admits 44.8% of applicants with SAT ranges of 710-780 Math and 690-750 Reading; ACT 32-35. At 30,760 enrolled, it operates at scale, which means real variability in program quality and student experience. The Pell grant rate of 19.4% is moderate for a flagship. Maryland's strongest draws are engineering, computer science, and business for students oriented toward high-demand career tracks. The Washington, D.C., metro location shapes an outsized share of career opportunities - internships at federal agencies, defense contractors, and policy organizations are accessible in ways unavailable to flagship universities in other regions.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether University of Maryland-College Park is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $62,712 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $82,860 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 4.2 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 88.6% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. A median $19,000 owed against $82,860 in annual earnings is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
University of Maryland-College Park: Common Questions
Is University of Maryland-College Park worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Maryland-College Park pays off. It scores 94/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $15,678 a year after aid ($62,712 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $82,860 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.2 years to earn back.
How much does University of Maryland-College Park cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $15,678 a year, or roughly $62,712 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Maryland-College Park graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $82,860 ten years after enrolling, roughly $41,060 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Maryland-College Park?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 4.2 years for University of Maryland-College Park. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do University of Maryland-College Park graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $19,000, against $82,860 in typical earnings a decade out. That is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should stay under a year of salary.
What is the graduation rate at University of Maryland-College Park?
The six-year graduation rate is 88.6%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.