University of Maryland-College Park
University of Maryland-College Park — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Maryland-College Park at a Glance
The University of Maryland, College Park is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland, United States, near Washington, D.C. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the University System of Maryland.
1856
170 years old
$2.1B
$2.10 billion (2023) (system-wide)
40,792
30,353 undergrad · 10,439 grad
4,474
1,340 acres
Prestige & value signals
Identity
Is University of Maryland-College Park Worth It?
University of Maryland-College Park is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $15,678/year net price and $82,860 median earnings, graduates earn 5.3× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.8 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 89% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
Bottom line: University of Maryland-College Park delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of Maryland-College Park compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 10 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Maryland-College Park | 100 | $15,678 | $82,860 |
| #2 | California State University-Long Beach | 100 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
| #3 | University of California-Davis | 100 | $14,741 | $80,838 |
| #4 | University of Georgia | 100 | $13,936 | $68,726 |
| #5 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 100 | $14,355 | $81,054 |
| #6 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | 100 | $14,091 | $78,466 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Maryland-College Park's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at University of Maryland-College Park
The highest-earning program at University of Maryland-College Park is Computer and Information Sciences, General at $81,300/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $18,300/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer and Information Sciences, General graduate from University of Maryland-College Park earns $81,300, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $18,300. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates carry $21,328 in median debt vs. $18,250 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $15,678/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $81,300 | $81,300 | $21,328 |
| Computer Engineering | $80,300 | $80,300 | $20,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $71,400 | $71,400 | $19,839 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $65,600 | $65,600 | $20,001 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $65,100 | $65,100 | $22,728 |
| Engineering, Other | $65,000 | $65,000 | $21,375 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $65,000 | $65,000 | $21,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $64,600 | $64,600 | $18,077 |
| Civil Engineering | $64,500 | $64,500 | $21,250 |
| Information Science/Studies | $64,300 | $64,300 | $18,653 |
| Materials Engineering | $63,700 | $63,700 | $21,500 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $62,300 | $62,300 | $21,172 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $60,600 | $60,600 | $16,375 |
| Chemical Engineering | $56,900 | $56,900 | $22,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $56,900 | $56,900 | $17,844 |
| Mathematics | $54,100 | $54,100 | $19,125 |
| International Business | $48,500 | $48,500 | $18,061 |
| Economics | $48,200 | $48,200 | $19,022 |
| Marketing | $47,600 | $47,600 | $18,334 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $46,100 | $46,100 | $21,500 |
| Architecture | $44,100 | $44,100 | $15,250 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $43,300 | $43,300 | $19,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $40,900 | $40,900 | $20,504 |
| Political Science and Government | $40,200 | $40,200 | $20,625 |
| Criminology | $39,100 | $39,100 | $16,468 |
| Area Studies | $38,500 | $38,500 | $22,261 |
| Geography and Cartography | $38,200 | $38,200 | $21,500 |
| Public Health | $38,200 | $38,200 | $18,875 |
| Journalism | $37,100 | $37,100 | $23,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $37,000 | $37,000 | $21,001 |
| Food Science and Technology | $36,200 | $36,200 | $21,349 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $35,100 | $35,100 | $21,000 |
| Psychology, General | $34,800 | $34,800 | $18,500 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $34,100 | $34,100 | $21,500 |
| Anthropology | $33,700 | $33,700 | $17,919 |
| Sociology | $33,700 | $33,700 | $20,366 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $33,600 | $33,600 | $20,277 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $32,600 | $32,600 | $19,500 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $32,000 | $32,000 | $19,440 |
| Physics | $32,000 | $32,000 | $24,052 |
| Animal Sciences | $31,400 | $31,400 | $17,462 |
| History | $29,300 | $29,300 | $21,500 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $29,200 | $29,200 | $19,500 |
| Biology, General | $28,700 | $28,700 | $19,000 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $27,900 | $27,900 | $20,000 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $23,500 | $23,500 | $24,250 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $21,900 | $21,900 | $19,500 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $18,300 | $18,300 | $18,250 |
Similar Colleges in MD
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- College Park, MD
- Student Body
- 30,760 students
- Admission Rate
- 45%
- Graduation Rate
- 89%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $15,678
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $82,860
- Median Student Debt
- $19,000