The Best Business Schools in Baltimore for 2027
Key Points: Best Business Schools in Baltimore
- Johns Hopkins University ranks #1 in the Baltimore area on a 97.2 Program Score, with a 94% graduation rate.
- Private schools hold most of the places on this list.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, Towson University, ranks #3.
- Programs analyzed
- 70
- Schools ranked
- 6
- Tuition range
- $7,530-$64,730
- Average graduation rate
- 70%
We analyzed 70 accredited business programs in Baltimore and the surrounding metro and ranked 6 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 6 ranked schools runs from $7,530 to $64,730 a year, a $57,200 spread for the same credential.
Johns Hopkins University leads with a 97.2 Program Score on a 94% graduation rate, at $64,730 a year. Across all 6 ranked business schools in Baltimore the average graduation rate is 70%, ranging from 50% to 94%. 2 of the 6 are public and 4 are private, a split that drives most of the price gap below.
Business Schools in Baltimore, Compared by Score
Johns Hopkins leads at 97.2, and Notre Dame of Maryland closes the chart at 69.2. Longer bars rank higher.
Our Methodology for Ranking Business Schools in Baltimore
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 6 Best Business Schools in Baltimore, Ranked for 2027
The 6 best Business Schools in Baltimore, ranked by outcomes.
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 94%
- Admit rate
- 6%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
A 60-credit dual MBA/MA in Design Leadership with the Maryland Institute College of Art, finished in 2 to 2.5 years.
- 94% graduation rate
- Program Score 97.2
- 60-credit dual MBA/MA
- 6% admit rate
Johns Hopkins University offers this business administration program as a dual MBA/MA in Design Leadership, run with the Maryland Institute College of Art and applied for through the Carey Business School. It is a 2- or 2.5-year, 60-credit course of study: 36 MBA credits and 24 MA credits. The MBA side is 22 credits of Business Foundations, covering accounting and financial reporting, business analytics, corporate finance, marketing management, negotiation, operations management and strategic management, plus 14 elective credits. Carey accepts 18 credits from the design curriculum as MBA electives. Specializations are optional, and graduates receive both diplomas. The catalog says students come from backgrounds such as management, marketing, engineering, finance, art and design, and architecture.
Federal data show a 94% graduation rate at Johns Hopkins and an admit rate of 6%, so admission is highly selective. The program's Program Score is 97.2 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It is listed as available online. It fits people who want general management training alongside design thinking and are willing to commit to a longer, two-degree path rather than a standard single-degree MBA.
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD · Public
- Grad rate
- 70%
- Admit rate
- 72%
- In-state
- $9,423
- Out-of-state
- $27,392
University of Maryland-Baltimore County's Management of Aging Services B.A. is housed in the Erickson School of Aging Studies and offers minors in aging studies and in health, wellness, and aging.
- 70% graduation rate
- Program Score 88
- $9,423 in-state tuition
- Aging services management focus
This listing is University of Maryland-Baltimore County's Bachelor of Arts in Management of Aging Services, taught through the Erickson School of Aging Studies and offered at the Catonsville campus. The program page describes an interdisciplinary major that prepares graduates for one of the fastest-growing areas of care, with the aim of working in or creating careers that match the needs of an aging population. Related minors are available in Aging Studies, Health, Wellness, and Aging, and Management of Aging Services. The page also shows alumni outcomes from graduates between 2011 and 2026, with healthcare and government the largest industries and Baltimore the most common work location, though it notes the data covers only graduates that could be matched.
UMBC reports a 70% graduation rate and admits 72% of applicants. In-state tuition is $9,423 and out-of-state tuition is $27,392, a gap of $17,969 that makes residency the biggest cost factor. The program earns a Program Score of 88 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want a management degree pointed at senior living, health care administration or public agencies serving older adults, and who value an interdisciplinary curriculum over a general business major.
Towson University
Towson, MD · Public
- Grad rate
- 69%
- Admit rate
- 82%
- In-state
- $7,530
- Out-of-state
- $25,622
Business Administration with an Entrepreneurship concentration that is open to all business majors and stacks with a 4-course certificate.
- 69% graduation rate
- Program Score 84.1
- $7,530 in-state tuition
- Entrepreneurship concentration
Towson University's Business Administration degree offers a concentration in Entrepreneurship, open to all business majors, that combines creativity, innovation and business strategy. Students learn to evaluate ideas, develop business models, manage through uncertainty and pitch their work. Electives let them tailor the concentration, for example toward a social mission. The page also describes a university-wide minor drawing on more than 50 entrepreneurship and innovation courses, and a stackable certificate of 4 courses that can count toward the minor or concentration. Business administration is a screened major: students are admitted to the major after completing required courses with a C or higher in each and an overall Towson GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Federal data show a 69% graduation rate and an 82% admit rate at Towson, with enrollment of 19,401. In-state tuition is $7,530, compared with $25,622 for out-of-state students. The program has a Program Score of 84.1 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits Maryland residents looking for a lower-cost public business degree, and students who want a path toward startup, consulting or product roles while keeping general business coursework.
McDaniel College
Westminster, MD · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 63%
- Admit rate
- 78%
- In-state
- $51,106
- Out-of-state
- $51,106
McDaniel College's Business Administration major offers five focal areas, a required capstone and a B.A./M.S. pathway, backed by an internship program.
- 63% graduation rate
- Program Score 80.4
- $51,106 tuition, in-state and out-of-state
- Five focal areas and a capstone
McDaniel College's Business Administration major builds a core in finance, marketing, accounting, data analytics, communication and strategy, then lets students specialize in one of five focal areas: entrepreneurship, finance, international business, leadership and management, or marketing. The page lists a capstone as a distinctive requirement, a B.A./M.S. pathway, and on-campus interviews held annually. Students can add minors in accounting, economics, management, marketing, entrepreneurship or sports management, or double major in accounting, economics or marketing. The college highlights its internship program and pre-law advising, and reports a 2023-24 Business College of Distinction designation from Colleges of Distinction.
McDaniel's graduation rate is 63% and it admits 78% of applicants. Tuition is $51,106 for both in-state and out-of-state students, so residency does not change the price. The program has a Program Score of 80.4 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a small-college business degree with room to personalize a specialization, gain internship experience, and possibly continue into a graduate degree through the B.A./M.S. pathway.
Maryland Institute College of Art
Baltimore, MD · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 72%
- Admit rate
- 77%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
The Design Leadership MA/MBA awards an MBA from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and an MA from Maryland Institute College of Art together in 20 to 24 months, fully online.
- 72% graduation rate
- Program Score 79.9
- Dual MA/MBA in 20 to 24 months
- Online format
The Design Leadership MA/MBA pairs two degrees earned at the same time: a Master of Business Administration from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and a Master of Art in Design Leadership from the Maryland Institute College of Art. MICA describes it as the only program in the United States where students earn simultaneous graduate degrees from a business school at a major research university and a premier art and design college. The program runs 20 to 24 months in an accelerated online format. It opens with a three-credit MICA summer intensive, Foundations of Design Leadership, then moves into Carey's Flexible MBA classes alongside MICA's design leadership courses. Cohorts draw students from business management, marketing, engineering, finance, architecture and fine arts.
MICA's graduation rate is 72% and the school admits 77% of applicants. The program has a Program Score of 79.9 out of 100, which sets its ranking. Because the curriculum blends case-style and project-based courses in strategy, research and design thinking, it fits working professionals who want an MBA with a creative problem-solving emphasis, including people with art, design or architecture backgrounds who want business credentials without leaving their field.
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Baltimore, MD · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 50%
- Admit rate
- 82%
- In-state
- $41,850
- Out-of-state
- $41,850
Business is offered three ways, including fully online 8-week courses, and requires a 120-hour internship practicum.
- 50% graduation rate
- Program Score 69.2
- $41,850 tuition, in-state and out-of-state
- Hybrid and fully online 8-week courses
Notre Dame of Maryland University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Business in three formats: a traditional full-time four-year program, hybrid 8-week courses for working adults that combine evening classes with online learning, and fully online 8-week courses through NDMU Online. The curriculum includes a required practicum, a 120-hour internship in the fourth year, which adult and online students may waive with at least two years of professional work experience. Students can add an accounting concentration aimed at the CPA exam, or minors in business or entrepreneurship. A five-year BA in Business/MA in Leadership and Management is also available. The school reports accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
Federal data show a 50% graduation rate and an 82% admit rate at Notre Dame of Maryland, with enrollment of 1,788. Tuition is $41,850 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program has a Program Score of 69.2 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It suits working adults who need a flexible format, and traditional students who want required internship experience built into the degree.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Business Schools in Baltimore
The median school on this list graduates 70% of its students. The highest rates belong to Johns Hopkins University (94%) and Maryland Institute College of Art (72%). The school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.
- #1 Johns Hopkins University94% graduation rate
- #5 Maryland Institute College of Art72% graduation rate
- #2 University of Maryland-Baltimore County70% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Business Schools in Baltimore?
On this list, 1 school admits fewer than half of applicants, the most selective being Johns Hopkins University at 6%.
- #1 Johns Hopkins University6% admitted
- #2 University of Maryland-Baltimore County72% admitted
- #5 Maryland Institute College of Art77% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Online Options Among the Business Schools in Baltimore
Of the 6 schools ranked here, 3 offer distance education. The highest ranked is Johns Hopkins University, at #1.
- #1 Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD
- #5 Maryland Institute College of ArtBaltimore, MD
- #6 Notre Dame of Maryland UniversityBaltimore, MD
Based on each school reporting distance-education offerings to IPEDS. Whether this specific degree is fully online varies, so confirm the format with the school.
Campus Size Across the Business Schools in Baltimore
Enrollment on this list runs from 1,687 at Maryland Institute College of Art to 30,210 at Johns Hopkins University. Of the 6, 1 enrolls 20,000 students or more and 3 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Business Schools in Baltimore Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins | $152,108 | $18,431 |
| #3 | Towson UniversityTowson | $78,497 | $18,120 |
| #4 | McDaniel CollegeMcDaniel College | $78,830 | $22,980 |
Four years out, medians on this list run from $78,497 at Towson to $152,108 at Johns Hopkins.
Johns Hopkins leads on both counts: the top rank among these schools and the highest graduate pay.
After grants, the average undergraduate pays least at Towson, $18,120 a year, and most at McDaniel College, $22,980.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
What Business Schools in Baltimore Cost
Tuition across the 6 ranked schools runs from $7,530 to $64,730 a year. Towson University anchors the low end at $7,530 a year, while Johns Hopkins University sits at the top at $64,730. The cheapest public option among the business schools in Baltimore is Towson University at $7,530; the cheapest private is Notre Dame of Maryland University at $41,850.
Over the four years a bachelor's takes, that is roughly $30,120 in tuition at Towson University against about $258,920 at Johns Hopkins University. Public figures here are the in-state resident rate, so an applicant moving to Baltimore from another state should read the out-of-state column before treating the cheap end of this list as cheap.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
Which Business Major to Choose in Baltimore
Business school covers a dozen different degrees, and the business schools in Baltimore do not all offer the same ones. Across the 70 accredited programs analyzed here, the fields with the deepest coverage in Baltimore are business administration (10 schools), accounting (7 schools), marketing (4 schools), healthcare administration (4 schools), and finance (2 schools). A school ranked highly overall is not automatically strong in the major you want, so check the field before the name.
Accounting is the one track bound to a license: most states now license CPAs on either 150 credit hours and one year of experience or a bachelor's and two years, so the choice between a fifth year of school and a longer apprenticeship shapes the course plan from the first year rather than the last. 7 of the schools analyzed in Baltimore run one.
Public and Private Business Schools in Baltimore
2 of the 6 ranked business schools in Baltimore are public and 4 are private, and that split drives most of the $57,200 tuition spread above. The public rate is a residency benefit: Towson University charges $7,530 in-state and $25,622 out of state, so where a student already lives changes this ranking more than any other single factor.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Why Study Business in Baltimore
The 6 ranked schools sit across 3 towns in the metro, among them Baltimore, Towson, and Westminster, and the table names the city of each, so check the commute before assuming a suburban campus is the convenient option. 3 of the 6 also run a confirmed online option for students who cannot be on campus daily.
Keep Exploring
Common Questions About Business Schools in Baltimore
What is the best business school in Baltimore?
By Program Score, Johns Hopkins University ranks first among the 6 ranked business schools in Baltimore, with a 97.2 score and a 94% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes together, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one of them.
Can you study business part-time in Baltimore?
Yes. Evening, weekend and part-time formats are common across the business schools in Baltimore, and in a metro this size most schools run at least one. The tradeoff is length rather than content: the same credential takes longer while you keep working. Ask each school for the completion rate of its part-time cohort specifically, since it often differs from the headline graduation rate this ranking uses.
How much does a business degree cost in Baltimore?
Tuition among the ranked Baltimore schools runs from $7,530 to $64,730 a year. Public schools publish the in-state resident rate, so students moving in from another state should check the out-of-state column before comparing. Neither figure includes Baltimore living costs, which are a real part of the total.
How many business schools in Baltimore does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 70 accredited business programs across Baltimore and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 6 schools, listing one entry per school on its strongest program. This list covers the Baltimore metro area, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table.
Is it worth studying business in Baltimore instead of online?
3 of the 6 ranked schools run a confirmed online option, so in Baltimore this is a live choice rather than a hypothetical one. An accredited online program carries identical standing on a transcript, since accreditation attaches to the school and the program rather than to the delivery format. What a campus adds is proximity to the employers that school recruits into, and at $7,530 in-state, Towson University is what that proximity costs at the low end here. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.