2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools in Maryland For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Area Studies Schools in Maryland For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 6,820 people earned their degree in area studies, making the major the 106th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, area studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,734 and had an average of $23,024 in loans still to pay off.

Across Maryland, there were 151 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,500 and $22,237 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Area Studies Schools in Maryland For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 4 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in area studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great area studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the area studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Area Studies Schools in Maryland For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Area Studies Schools in Maryland For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for maryland area studies students with aid.

Top 4 Best Value Colleges for Area Studies in Maryland (With Aid)

#1

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland

#1 in overall quality

$19,045 Average Net Price

$48,842 Average Early-Career Earnings

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools in Maryland For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Maryland - College Park landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Maryland - College Park is a large public school situated in College Park, Maryland. It awarded 50 ’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMCP, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Area Studies Schools in Maryland” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMCP is $19,045 for Maryland Area Studies students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Read full report on Area Studies at UMCP

#2

University of Maryland Global Campus

Adelphi, Maryland

#2 in overall quality

$14,288 Average Net Price

$56,283 Average Early-Career Earnings

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools in Maryland For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Maryland Global Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. UMGC is a large school located in Adelphi, Maryland that handed out 38 ’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UMGC also made our “Best Area Studies Schools in Maryland” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for UMGC is $14,288 for maryland area studies students with aid.

Full University of Maryland Global Campus Area Studies Report

#3

Towson University

Towson, Maryland

#3 in overall quality

$18,233 Average Net Price

$43,925 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Towson University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools in Maryland For Those Getting Aid list. Towson is a public institution located in Towson, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Towson not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Area Studies Schools in Maryland” list. The yearly cost to attend Towson is $18,233 for Maryland Area Studies students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Towson Area Studies Report

#4

University of Maryland - Baltimore County

Baltimore, Maryland

#4 in overall quality

$19,082 Average Net Price

$46,475 Average Early-Career Earnings

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools in Maryland For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Maryland - Baltimore County landed the #4 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and it awarded 19 ’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UMBC also made our “Best Area Studies Schools in Maryland” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for University of Maryland - Baltimore County is $19,082 for Maryland Area Studies students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Maryland - Baltimore County Area Studies Report

• Best Value Colleges for Area Studies in the Middle Atlantic Region (With Aid)
• Best Value Colleges for Area Studies (With Aid)

Notes and References

References

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
• Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

• *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
• Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

• Credit for the banner image above goes to Karl Udo Gerth.

Featured Political and Social Sciences Schools

Request Info

Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More >