2026 Best Value Chemistry Schools in Maryland
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in chemistry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Chemistry Schools
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #1 spot for value among chemistry schools in Maryland. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $21,238 in student loans. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $46,140. Set against $21,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
Towson University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in chemistry, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,728, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $52,765. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
A rank of #3 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the best values for chemistry. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. Students borrow a median of $12,366 to complete the chemistry program here. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $78,087. That is a strong return on a $12,366 median debt. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in chemistry will find it at University Of Maryland Baltimore County, which ranked #4. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $13,256, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $16,750. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore County generally make around $44,215. That is a strong return on a $16,750 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Chemistry](/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
