Best Colleges In Maryland: U.S. News Rankings For 2021

Editor's Note: Patch has updated this article to reflect the latest rankings. An earlier version of this article mistakenly included the previous year's rankings. Patch regrets the error.

MARYLAND — As students and colleges across the nation grapple with the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, U.S. News & World Report on Monday remained steadfast with the release of its 2021 edition of Best U.S. Colleges, a list that includes nearly two dozen schools in Maryland.

Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore came in at No. 9 overall on the best national universities list, while the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis was the No. 6 liberal arts college in the country.

Despite how the pandemic has forced current and potential students to alter college plans, U.S. News said in a news release that it must “continue providing students and their families with the tools they need to help find the right school for them.”

These Maryland colleges and universities were included in this year’s rankings:

National Universities

• Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Ranked 9.
• University of Maryland-College Park, College Park. Ranked 58.
• University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Baltimore. Ranked 160.
• Towson University, Towson. Ranked 196.
• Morgan State University, Baltimore. (Ranked in bottom 100 of top national schools.)
• University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Princess Anne. (Ranked in bottom 100 of top national schools.)

National Liberal Arts Colleges

• United States Naval Academy, Annapolis. Ranked 6.
• St. John's College, Annapolis. Ranked 63.
• St. Mary's College of Maryland, St. Marys City. Ranked 80.
• Washington College, Chestertown. Ranked 96.
• Goucher College, Baltimore. Ranked 120.

Regional Universities

• Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore. Ranked 4.
• McDaniel College, Westminster. Ranked 34.
• Mount St. Mary's University, Emmitsburg. Ranked 38.
• Hood College, Frederick. Ranked 56.
• Notre Dame of Maryland University, Baltimore. Ranked 59.
• Salisbury University, Salisbury. Ranked 67.
• Stevenson University, Stevenson. Ranked 81.
• University of Baltimore, Baltimore. Ranked 111.
• Frostburg State University, Frostburg. Ranked 113.
• Bowie State University, Bowie. (Ranked in bottom 40 of top regional schools.)
• Coppin State University, Baltimore. (Ranked in bottom 40 of top regional schools.)
• University of Maryland Global Campus, Adelphi. (Ranked in bottom 40 of top regional schools.)
• Washington Adventist University, Takoma Park. (Ranked in bottom 40 of top regional schools.)

Princeton University is once again No. 1 among National Universities, and Williams College remains in the top spot among National Liberal Arts Colleges.

For Top Public Schools, the University of California - Los Angeles is No. 1 among National Universities. The United States Naval Academy ranks No. 1 for Top Public Schools among National Liberal Arts Colleges.

To rank colleges, U.S. News first placed each school into a category based on its mission and, in some cases, its geographical location in the United States. U.S. News then evaluated more than 1,400 colleges and universities on 17 indicators of academic quality. The colleges are ranked based on their overall scores.

The data used for this year’s rankings was gathered in spring and early summer 2020; however, the publication noted that the pandemic did not affect the numbers.

This year’s edition also includes several methodology updates. The new measures look at timely topics such as student debt, social mobility and test-blind admissions policies. U.S. News also added new weights and indicators to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and added a new ranking for computer science programs.

See more detailed methodologies and frequently asked questions about the rankings.

See all of 2021’s Best U.S. Colleges by U.S. News & World Report.