Find Trade Colleges
2026 Best Trade Schools in Maryland
Looking for the best Trade degree programs in Maryland? Our ranking highlights 78 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Trade College evaluated 65 schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Trade Degree Schools in Maryland
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Towson University to be the best Trade school in Maryland. Set in Towson, MD, Towson University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,728, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. Typical Trade student debt is $21,241. See the full Towson University profile
You'll be in good company at Salisbury University, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Salisbury, MD, Salisbury University is a public institution. Salisbury University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,084, while out-of-state students pay about $22,174. Salisbury University Trade students take on a median of $23,545 in debt. Read more about Salisbury University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Maryland University College one of the top choices in Maryland. Located in Adelphi, MD, University Of Maryland University College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,136, while out-of-state students pay about $12,336. Graduates carry a median of $23,276 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Maryland University College
The strong Trade programs at Stevenson University earned it the #4 place in Maryland. Based in Owings Mills, MD, Stevenson University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,560. Students borrow a median of $27,042 to complete their Trade program here. Read the full report on Stevenson University
You'll be in good company at Baltimore City Community College, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Baltimore, MD, Baltimore City Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,314, compared with $7,394 for out-of-state students. Baltimore City Community College Trade students take on a median of $11,202 in debt. See the full Baltimore City Community College profile
Frostburg State University landed the #6 spot in Maryland this year. Set in Frostburg, MD, Frostburg State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,220, while out-of-state students pay about $25,814. The median Trade program debt is $25,340. Get the full Frostburg State University report
University Of Maryland Baltimore County came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in Baltimore, MD, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,256, with out-of-state students paying around $31,225. University Of Maryland Baltimore County Trade students take on a median of $21,331 in debt. Read more about University Of Maryland Baltimore County
Prince Georges Community College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Largo, MD, Prince Georges Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,034 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,762. Students borrow a median of $13,949 to complete their Trade program here. See the full Prince Georges Community College profile
Anne Arundel Community College placed #9 among Trade schools in Maryland. Located in Arnold, MD, Anne Arundel Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,322 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,522. Typical Trade student debt is $13,947. Read the full report on Anne Arundel Community College
Howard Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Based in Columbia, MD, Howard Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,599, compared with $10,836 for out-of-state students. The median Trade program debt is $18,115. Read more about Howard Community College
Hagerstown Community College landed the #11 spot in Maryland this year. Hagerstown Community College is a public school based in Hagerstown, MD. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,320, while out-of-state students pay about $8,190. Hagerstown Community College Trade students take on a median of $15,126 in debt. Read the full report on Hagerstown Community College
Chesapeake College placed #12 among Trade schools in Maryland. Set in Wye Mills, MD, Chesapeake College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,274, with out-of-state students paying around $8,768. Chesapeake College Trade students take on a median of $8,380 in debt. Get the full Chesapeake College report
Harford Community College did well this year, earning the #13 position. Located in Bel Air, MD, Harford Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,032, while out-of-state students pay about $8,832. Harford Community College Trade students take on a median of $12,624 in debt. Get the full Harford Community College report
Montgomery College placed #14 among Trade schools in Maryland. Located in Rockville, MD, Montgomery College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,394, while out-of-state students pay about $14,250. Typical Trade student debt is $11,230. See the full Montgomery College profile
The Community College Of Baltimore County ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Set in Baltimore, MD, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,110 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,182 for out-of-state students. The median Trade program debt is $18,038. Get the full The Community College Of Baltimore County report
College Of Southern Maryland ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. This public school is set in La Plata, MD. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,200, compared with $9,450 for out-of-state students. College Of Southern Maryland Trade students take on a median of $9,728 in debt. See the full College Of Southern Maryland profile
Carroll Community College landed the #17 spot in Maryland this year. This public school is set in Westminster, MD. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,308, with out-of-state students paying around $10,158. Students borrow a median of $17,398 to complete their Trade program here. See the full Carroll Community College profile
Frederick Community College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Set in Frederick, MD, Frederick Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,849, with out-of-state students paying around $10,042. Frederick Community College Trade students take on a median of $10,778 in debt. Read the full report on Frederick Community College
Wor Wic Community College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Based in Salisbury, MD, Wor Wic Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,840, with out-of-state students paying around $8,400. Graduates carry a median of $13,995 in student loans. More on Wor Wic Community College
Allegany College Of Maryland placed #20 among Trade schools in Maryland. Based in Cumberland, MD, Allegany College Of Maryland is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,940, while out-of-state students pay about $12,620. Allegany College Of Maryland Trade students take on a median of $18,823 in debt. Read more about Allegany College Of Maryland
Cecil College did well this year, earning the #21 position. This public school is set in North East, MD. In-state tuition and fees average $5,640, with out-of-state students paying around $10,830. Get the full Cecil College report
College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland landed the #22 spot in Maryland this year. Set in Baltimore, MD, College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland is a private not-for-profit institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,360. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Trade program here. More on College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland
Morgan State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. This public school is set in Baltimore, MD. Morgan State University graduates 41% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,229 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,124. Morgan State University Trade students take on a median of $30,309 in debt. Read the full report on Morgan State University
Coppin State University landed the #24 spot in Maryland this year. Based in Baltimore, MD, Coppin State University is a public institution. Coppin State University graduates 26% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $7,100, while out-of-state students pay about $14,024. Typical Trade student debt is $33,355. Read the full report on Coppin State University
Hair Expressions Academy placed #25 among Trade schools in Maryland. See the full Hair Expressions Academy profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Trade Degree Schools in Maryland
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
University System Of Maryland did well this year, earning the #26 position. Get the full University System Of Maryland report
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read the full report on University Of Maryland College Park
Montgomery Beauty School placed #28 among Trade schools in Maryland. Read the full report on Montgomery Beauty School
Washington Adventist University landed the #29 spot in Maryland this year. Get the full Washington Adventist University report
The Temple A Paul Mitchell Partner School landed the #30 spot in Maryland this year. Read more about The Temple A Paul Mitchell Partner School
Empire Beauty School Glen Burnie ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about Empire Beauty School Glen Burnie
Omega Studios School Of Applied Recording Arts And Sciences landed the #32 spot in Maryland this year. More on Omega Studios School Of Applied Recording Arts And Sciences
Maryland Institute College Of Art did well this year, earning the #33 position. More on Maryland Institute College Of Art
University Of Maryland Baltimore ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full University Of Maryland Baltimore profile
Paul Mitchell The School Jessup landed the #35 spot in Maryland this year. See the full Paul Mitchell The School Jessup profile
Loyola University Baltimore landed the #36 spot in Maryland this year. More on Loyola University Baltimore
Yeshiva College Of The Nations Capital landed the #37 spot in Maryland this year. Get the full Yeshiva College Of The Nations Capital report
Lincoln College Of Technology Columbia came in at #38 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Lincoln College Of Technology Columbia
Empire Beauty School Owings Mills did well this year, earning the #39 position. Read more about Empire Beauty School Owings Mills
North American Trade Schools placed #40 among Trade schools in Maryland. More on North American Trade Schools
Holistic Massage Training Institute came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Read more about Holistic Massage Training Institute
Womens Institute Of Torah Seminary came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Womens Institute Of Torah Seminary
University System Of Maryland Research Centers landed the #43 spot in Maryland this year. More on University System Of Maryland Research Centers
Goucher College
Goucher College landed the #44 spot in Maryland this year. More on Goucher College
Baltimore School Of Massage Linthicum placed #45 among Trade schools in Maryland. Get the full Baltimore School Of Massage Linthicum report
Mcdaniel College
Mcdaniel College placed #46 among Trade schools in Maryland. Read the full report on Mcdaniel College
Delmarva Beauty Academy placed #47 among Trade schools in Maryland. See the full Delmarva Beauty Academy profile
Bais Hamedrash And Mesivta Of Baltimore placed #48 among Trade schools in Maryland. Read more about Bais Hamedrash And Mesivta Of Baltimore
Bowie State University did well this year, earning the #49 position. Read the full report on Bowie State University
Baltimore Beauty Barber School Ii landed the #50 spot in Maryland this year. See the full Baltimore Beauty Barber School Ii profile
More Trade Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 65 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 78 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).