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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Liberal Arts Schools in Maryland

19 Colleges in the United States
2,031 Liberal Arts Degrees Awarded
$31,241 Avg Early-Career Salary

Liberal Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their liberal arts programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 schools to find the best for liberal arts students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Liberal Arts in Maryland

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall liberal arts education in Maryland.

Top Schools in Liberal Arts

1
Salisbury University crest
Salisbury University
Salisbury, MD

Leading the list is Salisbury University, our #1 school for liberal arts. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Salisbury. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Salisbury University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $38,478 in their early career. Salisbury University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Get the full liberal arts details for Salisbury University

2

Johns Hopkins University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 26 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $45,147 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426. Read more about the liberal arts program at Johns Hopkins University

3

College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 17 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland earn a median of $48,819 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,000. Read more about the liberal arts program at College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland

4

Anne Arundel Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #4 spot this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Arnold. Anne Arundel Community College awarded about 134 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $25,826 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500. Get the full liberal arts details for Anne Arundel Community College

5

A rank of #5 makes Baltimore City Community College one of the top schools for liberal arts. Baltimore City Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Baltimore. About 21 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Baltimore City Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Baltimore City Community College generally make around $41,120. Baltimore City Community College graduates carry a median of $8,850 in student loans. Read more about the liberal arts program at Baltimore City Community College

6
Montgomery College crest
Montgomery College
Rockville, MD

Montgomery College landed the #6 spot for liberal arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Rockville. About 205 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Montgomery College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Montgomery College earn a median of $20,217 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Montgomery College

7

The Community College Of Baltimore County ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public institution. There were roughly 121 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at The Community College Of Baltimore County in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from The Community College Of Baltimore County earn around $27,852 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,469 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in liberal arts from The Community College Of Baltimore County

8

College Of Southern Maryland placed #8 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the rural area of La Plata, College Of Southern Maryland is a moderately-sized public institution. About 243 liberal arts degrees were awarded at College Of Southern Maryland in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from College Of Southern Maryland generally make around $29,862. Typical student debt for the program is $9,456. More information about a degree in liberal arts from College Of Southern Maryland

9

Frostburg State University came in at #9 for liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Frostburg, Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public university. Frostburg State University graduates 50% of students within six years. Frostburg State University awarded about 48 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $32,889 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,750 to complete this degree. See the full liberal arts program report for Frostburg State University

10
Chesapeake College crest
Chesapeake College
Wye Mills, MD

Chesapeake College came in at #10 for liberal arts this year. Set in the rural area of Wye Mills, Chesapeake College is a mid-sized public institution. Chesapeake College awarded about 72 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $29,611 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500. See the full liberal arts program report for Chesapeake College

11

Carroll Community College came in at #11 for liberal arts this year. Set in the town of Westminster, Carroll Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 231 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Carroll Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Carroll Community College earn a median of $23,320 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,750. Read more about the liberal arts program at Carroll Community College

12

Frederick Community College came in at #12 for liberal arts this year. Frederick Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Frederick. There were roughly 49 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Frederick Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $22,067 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,935 to complete this degree. Get the full liberal arts details for Frederick Community College

13

Harford Community College earned the #13 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the rural area of Bel Air, Harford Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 186 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Harford Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $26,448 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,227. Read more about the liberal arts program at Harford Community College

14

Howard Community College came in at #14 for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Columbia, Howard Community College is a large public university. Howard Community College awarded about 170 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Howard Community College earn around $22,042 in the first couple years of their career. Howard Community College graduates carry a median of $10,200 in student loans. Read more about the liberal arts program at Howard Community College

15

Morgan State University placed #15 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Morgan State University is a large public institution. About 41% of students finish within six years. About 97 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Morgan State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Morgan State University generally make around $39,699. Students borrow a median of $32,512 to complete this degree. Read more about the liberal arts program at Morgan State University

16

Hagerstown Community College came in at #16 for liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Hagerstown, Hagerstown Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 147 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Hagerstown Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Hagerstown Community College earn around $25,177 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,548. Read more about the liberal arts program at Hagerstown Community College

17

St Johns College Maryland ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. St Johns College Maryland is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Annapolis. St Johns College Maryland graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 128 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at St Johns College Maryland in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $34,603 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full liberal arts details for St Johns College Maryland

18

Coppin State University landed the #18 spot for liberal arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Baltimore. About 26% of students finish within six years. Coppin State University awarded about 24 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $50,062 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $41,868 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Coppin State University

19

Allegany College Of Maryland placed #19 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the town of Cumberland, Allegany College Of Maryland is a mid-sized public university. Allegany College Of Maryland awarded about 51 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Allegany College Of Maryland earn around $27,637 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000. See the full liberal arts program report for Allegany College Of Maryland

20
Garrett College crest
Garrett College
McHenry, MD

Garrett College earned the #20 position for liberal arts this year. Garrett College is a small public school located in the rural area of McHenry. Garrett College awarded about 16 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $13,943 in their early career. Garrett College graduates carry a median of $13,352 in student loans. See the full liberal arts program report for Garrett College

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 25 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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