2026 Best Value Economics Schools in Maryland

[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong economics education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for economics students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Economics Schools in Maryland
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in economics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Economics Schools
University Of Maryland College Park tops our 2026 list of the best value economics schools in Maryland. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Economics graduates carry a median of $20,097 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $68,907. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Frostburg State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the town of Frostburg, Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,220, while out-of-state students pay about $25,814. Students borrow a median of $25,340 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Frostburg State University generally make around $42,798. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Frostburg State University admits about 89% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Towson University one of the best values for economics. Towson University is a very large public school located in the city of Towson. Students from in state pay about $11,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,820 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $18,838 in student loans. Economics graduates of Towson University earn a median of $50,910 early in their careers. Set against $18,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the best values for economics. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Economics graduates carry a median of $12,494 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $89,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a great value for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,256, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,920 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $54,859. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
St Marys College Of Maryland landed the #6 spot for economics value this year. Set in the rural area of St. Mary's City, St Marys College Of Maryland is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,298, compared with $31,374 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,946 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from St Marys College Of Maryland generally make around $51,483. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Washington College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Set in the town of Chestertown, Washington College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $55,081. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $27,000. Economics graduates of Washington College earn a median of $50,835 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Washington College admits about 57% of applicants.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.