8 Accredited Online Colleges in Maryland

If you are looking for online colleges in Maryland to enroll in as an in- or out-of-state student, then you have come to the right place. This article will provide you with a comprehensive list of the accredited online colleges in Maryland, giving you many options to choose from.

As a state in the US, Maryland is home to one of the nation’s most prestigious universities, with John Hopkins University ranking 9th in the 2022 edition of Best Global Universities. It is no surprise why there is a surge of college aspirants year in and year out as the state boasts of over 50 colleges, 30 public and 23 private. Everyone wants a bite of the slice in a state where the education system works, and where there is a high employment opportunity.

For students looking to apply to one of the state’s universities but have other things going on for them, these schools have provided online alternatives where students can conveniently juggle school with their other engagements. The school has put in place, all the digital tools for learning online but as a prospective student, you can take a step further by getting these interactive learning tools to make the journey more fun for you.

There are quite a several exciting benefits of studying in one of Maryland’s online schools, some of which will be discussed later in this article. It is important to note that majority of these schools are not exclusively online, instead, they are regular universities and community colleges in Maryland with many different program options; so you have a hand full to choose from.

This article focuses on accredited colleges only since the benefits of attending an accredited college cannot be emphasized enough. For one, it ensures that employers and other institutions will recognize your degree.

Are Maryland online colleges affordable? I hear you ask. Well, affordability is relative, but we are going to find out what it will cost on an average to study in any of the online colleges in Maryland.

If cost is one of your topmost priorities, you might want to consider looking at some of the cheapest online colleges, and the majority are in the US. Don’t worry, they are also accredited.

The average cost of online colleges in Maryland

You may be expecting to see a massive discount in online college tuition when compared to on-campus but the difference is not as much as anyone would expect although online students do not pay for room and board, transportation, and other related costs such as childcare.

However, there are extra fees that prospective online students are to pay in some colleges such as technology fees, course materials, laboratory, exam proctoring fees, and graduation fees.

For in-state students attending four-year public schools in Maryland, the average cost of tuition and fees is slightly above the national average while that of out-of-state students is almost a thousand dollars lesser than the national average. And for private schools, it is $10,000 higher than the national average irrespective of residency.

Below is the average cost of studying in any of the online colleges in Maryland

  • In-state students: $9,289 where national average is $9,037
  • Out-of-state students: $24,353 where national average is $25,657
  • For private schools: $41,859 where national average is $30,731

Requirements for online colleges in Maryland

Before you can get considered for admission into any of the online colleges in Maryland, there are certain requirements and eligibility criteria you must meet. The admission board will use these to evaluate you and ensure that you are qualified for admission into any of the programs in their college. The basic entry requirements for online colleges in Maryland are:

  • Undergraduate applicants must have a high school diploma, GED, or its equivalent.
  • Postgraduate applicants must have completed and earned a bachelor’s degree. To find out how you can earn a bachelor’s degree faster, click here
  • Applicants may be required to take standardized tests like MCAT, GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, etc.
  • Applicants should have the following documents in place:  letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, essay, CV or resume, and an ID.
  • Applicants must have original high school transcripts and transcripts from previously attended institutions
  • Applicants must meet the required CGPA for their respective degree programs
  • Applicants must complete the application form
  • Applicants must pay an application fee if required although some online colleges waive the application fee.
  • Applicants need to have digital learning devices to take online classes and submit tests and assignments.

Also, you should keep in mind that some colleges will ask for other specific requirements as the case may be.

Benefits of online colleges in Maryland

Studying online in Maryland comes with many benefits which are often not emphasized enough. If you are here to weigh your pros and cons, here are some of the pros you may need to work with.

  1. Studying online in Maryland offers you a very flexible and self-paced form of learning
  2. You are in full control of your time and schedule
  3. You can conveniently juggle study with work and other commitments
  4. You save some money on transportation and accommodation
  5. You learn from the comfort of your home or anywhere at all
  6. Degree programs are faster to complete online. You could earn an associate degree in 6 months instead of 2 years.
  7. You have easy access to your instructors
  8. It helps if you are a shy person since you can have a one-on-one without feeling intimidated
  9. You get to focus more on your studies when its time to learn
  10. Networking is easier and faster

Studying in any of the online colleges in Maryland may not entirely outweigh its other alternatives but they all have their unique advantages which I think are relative as what is good and convenient for one person may not be the same for someone else. If the benefits listed above made you tick positively, then you are just in the right place because below are some of the schools you should start considering for your online education.

online colleges in Maryland

8 Accredited Online Colleges in Maryland

In this section, you will find some of the accredited online colleges in Maryland with enough details to guide you through your decision-making process. Rest assured, you find the school of your dream here and move on to the next stage which is filling out the online admission form and sending in all the admission requirements.

1. University of Maryland Global Campus

As one of the online colleges in Maryland, the University of Maryland Global Campus has stayed for over 75 years with its core mission being to serve the higher education needs of working adults and service members.

Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the institution offers online courses that can be accessed anywhere, and it has more than 170 classroom and service locations worldwide, including at military installations.

UMGC provides very affordable undergraduate and postgraduate programs, replacing every textbook with no-cost digital course materials to ensure that every student gets access to quality education.

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2. Baltimore City Community College

Baltimore City Community College is one of the accredited online colleges in Maryland accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The college offers associate degree programs and certifications in high-demand fields, as well as affordable tuition and flexible classes scheduled to meet students’ needs.

The degrees and certificate programs at BCCC can be completed online although students may be required to take exams on campus to ensure the integrity of the tests.

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3. University of Maryland – College Park

As one of the best accredited colleges in Maryland, the University of Maryland – College Park offers a wide range of online Post-Baccalaureate programs but what makes the institution stand out is its Information School generally known as iSchool. The iSchool is under the University of Maryland’s School of Information Studies and offers several Master’s, Ph.D., and certificate programs in the IT field.

The university uses Canvas as its Enterprise Learning Management System (ELMS). It is where it hosts its online courses, communicate with students, provides classroom support, and makes any form of change.

The University of Maryland – College Park is accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education

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4. Towson University

Pursue your online degree or certificate programs in one of the best public schools in Maryland. Towson University’s Extended and Professional Education programs include courses for students who want to learn online; training and certification for members of the workforce; and enrichment opportunities for retirees.

The online programs are also designed to provide students with an accelerated path to graduate programs. It offers them opportunities to save time and money while completing a degree.

There’s no way one would mention accredited online colleges in Maryland without Towson sitting prominently on the list. The institution is accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

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5. Johns Hopkins University

John Hopkins University is unarguably the best school in Maryland and is fortunately on this list of online colleges in Maryland because it also offers online degree programs. It is accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Johns Hopkins University offers these programs through its Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Carey Business School, School of Advanced International Studies, School of Education, Whiting School of Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The institution has also partnered with the online learning platform, Coursera, to provide dozens of free and paid courses and programs to anyone interested.

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6. Stevenson University

Stevenson University has a wide range of online degree and certificate programs for undergraduate and Graduate students. It also has the Bachelor’s to Master’s and Associate to Master’s options for BSc. and AS degree holders respectively.

At Stevenson’s University, there is something for everyone, you just have to make your way to the school’s site and find your program of choice. And just like other online colleges in Maryland, the University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

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7. Frostburg State University

Frostburg State University is one of the online colleges in Maryland that is committed to being one of the nation’s most affordable universities providing quality education to students. It is an institution of the University System of Maryland, accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and the only four-year institution of USM west of the Baltimore-Washington corridor.

One of FSU’s missions is to meet students wherever they are and not let anything be a barrier to them furthering their education and earning a degree, be it distance or accommodation. This is why they have provided platforms for online learning, therefore students can take classes and complete their coursework through Canvas, PAWS, and BigBlueButton.

The institution offers hundreds of online courses and six-degree programs entirely online – one Undergraduate RN to BSN program and five Graduate degrees. Feel free to explore them below.

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8. University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County is an American public research university that is part of the University of Maryland System. Making it to the list of accredited online colleges in Maryland, the institution offers four online master’s degrees and three post-baccalaureate certificates which can be completed in 3-4 years and 1 year respectively.

UMBC’s completely online Master’s in Information Systems comprises 34 credit hours of coursework and is designed for professionals working in the IT field who want to advance their careers. The program has been named the best program by U.S. News.

UMBC also offers a Master’s in Health Information Technology program that prepares experienced working professionals to fill a range of opportunities within the health care profession. There is also an accelerated path for students who want a fast-track program. See the link below for more details.

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Conclusion

There is no better way to close this article without mentioning that if you are already here, it is a sign that online programs might just be the perfect option for you as a working person. Leaving work and focusing on school full-time may not be the best option so this is another way you could catch two birds with one stone. Find the school and program of your choice and get back to being a student!

Before you go, you might want to get started with studies with these free online courses as they will give you a leg up in your academics. Good luck!

Online Colleges in Maryland – FAQs

Are there free online colleges in Maryland?

No. None of the online colleges in Maryland are free. However, most of them have partnered with online education platforms like Coursera and edX to provide free online certificate courses to students. Feel free to explore their catalogs.

What is the cheapest online college in Maryland?

On this list, the University of Maryland Global Campus is the cheapest institution that provides online education in Maryland. Also, the University of Maryland – College Park is often regarded as one of the cheapest online colleges in Maryland.

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