Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Maryland
Ranked by graduate earnings
Notre Dame of Maryland University, Morgan State University and Salisbury University are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Maryland by graduate earnings. Notre Dame of Maryland University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,819, College Scorecard. St. John's College, Morgan State University and Cecil College award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Maryland: 157, 98 and 91 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 31 Maryland colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 9,860 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
Top 5 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notre Dame of Maryland University Baltimore Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,819 | 51 | 50% | $24,333 | $28,000 |
| 2 | Morgan State University Baltimore Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,699 | 98 | 41% | — | $32,512 |
| 3 | Salisbury University Salisbury Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,478 | 42 | 68% | — | $25,000 |
| 4 | Frostburg State University Frostburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,889 | 33 | 50% | — | $28,750 |
| 5 | St. John's College Annapolis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,307 | 157 | 71% | $25,276 | $27,000 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | College of Southern Maryland La Plata Public · Associate degree | $29,862 | 1,518 | 33% | — | $10,650 |
| 2 | Chesapeake College Wye Mills Public · Certificate | $29,611 | 87 | 35% | — | $5,500 |
| 3 | Allegany College of Maryland Cumberland Public · Associate degree | $27,637 | 102 | 40% | — | $15,000 |
| 4 | Harford Community College Bel Air Public · Associate degree | $26,448 | 373 | 39% | — | $10,227 |
| 5 | Anne Arundel Community College Arnold Public · Associate degree | $25,826 | 472 | 31% | — | $9,500 |
| 6 | Hagerstown Community College Hagerstown Public · Associate degree | $25,177 | 242 | 39% | — | $11,548 |
| 7 | Carroll Community College Westminster Public · Associate degree | $23,320 | 219 | 39% | — | $8,750 |
| 8 | Frederick Community College Frederick Public · Associate degree | $22,067 | 217 | 37% | — | $8,935 |
| 9 | Montgomery College Rockville Public · Associate degree | $20,217 | 1,035 | 32% | — | $9,500 |
| 10 | Garrett College McHenry Public · Associate degree | $13,943 | 43 | 34% | — | $13,352 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Maryland
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. John's College Annapolis Private not-for-profit | 157 | $25,307 |
| 2 | Morgan State University Baltimore Public | 98 | $39,699 |
| 3 | Cecil College North East Public | 91 | Not reported |
| 4 | Notre Dame of Maryland University Baltimore Private not-for-profit | 51 | $48,819 |
| 5 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Private not-for-profit | 47 | Not reported |
| 6 | Salisbury University Salisbury Public | 42 | $38,478 |
| 7 | Frostburg State University Frostburg Public | 33 | $32,889 |
| 8 | Towson University Towson Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 9 | Hood College Frederick Private not-for-profit | 8 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County Baltimore Public | 7 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 21 Maryland colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Maryland
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Maryland.
Which Maryland colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
St. John's College (157 graduates a year), Morgan State University (98 graduates a year) and Cecil College (91 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Maryland, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 31 Maryland colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Maryland?+
By graduate earnings, Notre Dame of Maryland University leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Maryland, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,819, College Scorecard. Morgan State University and Salisbury University follow. By degrees awarded, St. John's College is the largest, with 157 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in Maryland has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Notre Dame of Maryland University tops the list at $48,819. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Maryland?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in Maryland is $102,710 (median $82,850), across about 4,840 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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