Last Updated: October 08, 2021
Maryland - The Old Line State
Maryland is a prosperous state of the United States located in the Mid Atlantic Region. It is bordered by the states of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia. Maryland is the 18th most populated state in the nation with an estimated population of around 6.2 million in 2021. Most of the population of the state is concentrated in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area and Washington Metropolitan Area as a response to their advanced economic structure and the huge number of amenities available for the masses. Annapolis is the capital city of the state. Climatic characteristics of Maryland contrast widely due to its local variations in elevation and also nearness to water. Thus, the region has hot, humid summers, and cold, windy winters.
Major Cities in Maryland
Baltimore
Situated in the northern region of Maryland, Baltimore is the largest city with an estimated population of about 586,000. Established as a city in 1851, Baltimore was named after Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. The presence of major educational institutes of higher learning such as Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Maryland Institute College of Art, etc., makes the city an important educational hub. Popular attractions include Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, American Visionary Art Museum, Inner Harbor and Historic Ships, Fell's Point, and so on.
Columbia
With a population of around 105,000, Columbia is the second-largest city in Maryland. However, Columbia is not officially a city, but is generally known as a 'census-designated place'. It was founded in 1967 by James W. Rouse and is situated in Howard County. It has been ranked as the safest place in America with regards to home and community safety. Popular sites in this city are Lake Kittamaqundi, Robinson Nature Center, Lost Ark Distilling Company, Historic Oakland Mansion, and so on.
Germantown
Germantown has an estimated population of over 91,000, which makes it the third-biggest city in Maryland. Just like Columbia, this is also not officially a city, but a 'census-designated place'. Founded in the early 19th century, Germantown is situated in Montgomery County. It has got several major attractions such as BlackRock Center for the Arts, Bohrer Park, Lancaster County Dutch Market, Great Seneca Stream Valley Park, Gaithersburg Arts Barn, and so on.
Silver Spring
With an estimated population of over 81,000, Silver Spring is the largest city in Maryland. This region is also a 'census-designated place' and not an official city. It was founded by explorer Francis Preston Blair in 1840. The place is an important center for business. There are many tourist attractions in this region such as Wheaton Regional Park, AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, Silver Spring Library, St. Camillus Church, and so on.
Economy/Job Market
- Information technology, telecommunications, biotechnology, aerospace and defense, manufacturing, agribusiness, and tourism are leading industries contributing to Maryland's economic growth.
- The unemployment rate of the state (at 5.9%) has experienced a minor decline in the month of August 2021 but is still higher than the national average (5.2%).
- However, the economy of the state seems to be recovering at a good pace compared to many states, and ranks 19 in terms of GDP growth, according to Forbes.
- Government Services, Business, Education & Health Services, Trade, Transportation, and Mining are the important sectors for Maryland's economic growth currently.
- Some of the largest companies in the state are Marriott International, Lockheed Martin, MAR, GEICO, Maxim Healthcare Services, MedStar Health, etc.
Tuition Fee and Living Cost in Maryland
The cost of living is higher in Maryland than the national average. The cost of housing is the highest, followed by transportation, and utilities. However, healthcare costs are lower than the national average. Some of the most expensive cities in Maryland are Mount Rainier, College Park, Bladensburg, and Gaithersburg. The most affordable cities to live in are Brunswick, Cumberland, Hampstead, and Thurmont.
When it comes to educational costs in Maryland, most private institutions seem to charge tuition fees higher than the national average. For instance, the Maryland Institute College of Art (Baltimore) charges around $54,000 for tuition fees. The expense rates in public institutions are moderate to low for in-state students and higher than the national average for out-of-state students.
List of Few Major Universities/Colleges
Maryland is known for its high investment in the education sector to prepare its human capital for growth in the economic sector. It is also worth mentioning that the State of Maryland ranks 2nd regarding the workforce engaged as professional and technical workers. The nation thus presents copious amounts of opportunities related to educational as well as professional courses. The top universities/colleges in this state are:
- Johns Hopkins University Situated in the largest city in Maryland, Baltimore, this is also one of the best private universities in the state. The university is named after Johns Hopkins, an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. It was established on February 22, 1876. With about 23,000 students, the student-to-faculty ratio is 6:1. The tuition fee is roughly $52,000 for all undergraduate students. Mike Bloomberg, Woodrow Wilson, and John Dewey are notable alumni of this institution. The university ranks #9 as the best college nationally, according to USNews.
- University of Maryland-College Park This is one of the most reputed universities in the state and is situated in College Park. This is a public university that was founded in 1856. It was originally known as Maryland Agricultural College, and Maryland State College. With around 45,000 students and more than 4,000 faculty members, the student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate majors, 115 master's programs, and over 80 doctoral programs. The tuition fee for in-state undergraduate students is about $12,000 and approximately $39,000 for out-of-state students.
- United States Naval Academy Located in the capital city of Maryland, Annapolis, the academy was established on 10 October 1845. Being a Naval academy, it is evident that the institution offers rigorous training not just in academics, but also in military and physical development programs. The academy houses more than 4,500 students and has more than 500 faculty members. The student-to-faculty ratio is 8:1. Education, room, board, healthcare, etc., are free of cost, and students have to offer "5 years of active duty service upon graduation".
- University of Maryland-Baltimore County This university was founded in 1966 and is situated in Baltimore, Maryland's largest city. This public university is known for its high academic quality, student diversity, and high-quality research. With roughly 16,000 students and more than 800 faculty members, the student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1. Popular majors offered here include Biology, Computer Science, Psychology, Economics, and Information Science. The tuition fee for in-state undergraduate students is about $14,000 and roughly $30,000 for out-of-state students.
Scholarships/Financial Aid for Students
There are several grants and scholarships based on several categories like need, merit, type of institution, major, vocation, and even ethnic groups. The state of Maryland also provides numerous grants for its students to make pursuing a degree hassle-free. Students are advised to contact their respective university bursar offices for a detailed report of financial grants.
- Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant: To be qualified for this grant, the student must be a legal resident of Maryland, must have graduated high school from the state, and must enroll at an accredited institution in Maryland on a full-time basis. The student must have secured a minimum score of 2.5 GPA, demonstrate financial need, and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA). The award amount offered can be up to $19,400.
- Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance (EA) Grant​: This is a need-based grant to help undergraduate students of Maryland. To be eligible for the program, the student is required to be a permanent resident of the state of Maryland and must pursue a degree from an accredited two-year or four-year institution on a full-time basis. Students are supposed to demonstrate economic need and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA). The award amount will range from $500 to $3,000 based on need, and the type of institution.
- Tuition Waiver for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth: This is a need-based program to assist students who have no parent or guardian to support them, and are homeless or do not have a fixed residence. This may include children or youth residing in shelters, motels, campgrounds, abandoned buildings, public spaces, etc. To be qualified for the program, the student must submit the FAFSA or the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA), pursue a degree from an accredited public institution, and must be below the age of 25. The award amount may vary based on the institution and will cover tuition and mandatory fees.
- 2+2 Transfer Scholarship: This is a scholarship program that helps students to transfer from community colleges to a four-year institution. To be eligible for this program, the student must be a legal resident of Maryland, Must have attended community college on a full-time or part-time basis, and must plan to attend a degree from a four-year accredited institution in Maryland. The student is required to submit a 2+2 Transfer Scholarship application, the FAFSA, along with an official transcript proving that the student has received their associate degree. The award amount will be $2,000 for students pursuing a degree in science, teaching, engineering, computer science, mathematics, or nursing program. For the rest of the students, the amount will be around $1,000.
Tourism
Maryland is a unique state that offers a variety of landscapes such as mountains, valleys, coasts, rivers, waterfalls, and plateaus. This gives scope for people to enjoy the natural beauty of Maryland and also indulge in several fun outdoor activities. The state houses numerous beautiful destinations to explore such as Fort McHenry National Monument, National Aquarium, National Aquarium, Assateague State Park, Antietam National Battlefield, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Deep Creek Lake Area, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Brookside Gardens, and a lot more.
Maryland is also popular for Blue Crabs. Some of the best dishes available here are Crab Cakes, Utz Crab Chips, Thrasher’s French Fries, Pit Beef, etc.
Universities & Colleges in Maryland
*UG - Undergraduate
*G - Graduate
*in - In-state Fees
*out - Out-of-State Fees
- Recommended program (Top 250)
