2026 Best Value General Economics Schools in Maryland

[General Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/economics-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general economics students.
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2026 Best Value General Economics Schools in Maryland
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Economics Schools
University Of Maryland College Park tops our 2026 list of the best value general economics 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, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Students borrow a median of $20,097 to complete the general economics program here. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Students looking for strong value in general economics will find it at Frostburg State University, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Frostburg, Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,220, while out-of-state students pay about $25,814. General Economics graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans. Early-career general economics graduates make about $42,798. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Students looking for strong value in general economics will find it at Towson University, which ranked #3. Towson University is a very large public school located in the city of Towson. In-state tuition and fees average $11,728, with out-of-state students paying around $29,820. General Economics graduates carry a median of $18,838 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $50,910. Set against $18,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general economics will find it at Johns Hopkins University, which ranked #4. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Typical student debt for general economics graduates is $12,494. General Economics graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $89,118 early in their careers. Set against $12,494 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general economics, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. Students from in state pay about $13,256 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,225. Students borrow a median of $21,920 to complete the general economics program here. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore County generally make around $54,859. That is a strong return on a $21,920 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
St Marys College Of Maryland placed #6 among the best values for general economics. St Marys College Of Maryland is a small public school located in the rural area of St. Mary's City. In-state tuition and fees average $15,298, while out-of-state students pay about $31,374. Students borrow a median of $24,946 to complete the general economics program here. Early-career general economics graduates make about $51,483. Set against $24,946 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. St Marys College Of Maryland admits about 69% of applicants.
Washington College landed the #7 spot for general economics value this year. Washington College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Chestertown. Students from in state pay about $55,081 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general economics program here. General Economics graduates of Washington College earn a median of $50,835 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.