Johns Hopkins University tops 2025 list of best universities in Maryland, WalletHub report

BALTIMORE, MD—A new report has named Johns Hopkins University the best university in Maryland for 2025.

With the first “early decision” college-application deadline looming on November 1, and tuition plus room and board at a four-year college costing $28,000 – $60,000 per year, the personal-finance website WalletHub this week released its reports on 2025’s Best College & University Rankings, to help college-bound seniors make the most informed school choices.

WalletHub compared over 800 higher-education institutions in the U.S. based on 30 key measures grouped into seven categories, such as Student Selectivity, Cost & Financing and Career Outcomes. The data set ranges from student-faculty ratios to graduation rates to salaries after graduation.

Top 10 Colleges & Universities in Maryland

1. Johns Hopkins University 6. St. Mary’s College of Maryland

2. University of Maryland-College Park 7. University of Maryland-Baltimore County

3. St. John’s College 8. Goucher College

4. Loyola University Maryland 9. Mount St. Mary’s University

5. Washington College 10. Salisbury University

School Snapshot: Johns Hopkins University (1 = Best; 6 = Average; 12 = Worst):

• 1st – Admission Rate
• 12th – Net Cost
• 1st – Student-Faculty Ratio
• 6th – On-Campus Crime
• 1st – Gender & Racial Diversity
• 1st – Graduation Rate
• 1st – Post-Attendance Median Salary

School Snapshot: University of Maryland-College Park (1 = Best; 6 = Average; 12 = Worst):

• 3rd – Admission Rate
• 7th – Net Cost
• 11th – Student-Faculty Ratio
• 5th – On-Campus Crime
• 3rd – Gender & Racial Diversity
• 2nd – Graduation Rate
• 3rd – Post-Attendance Median Salary

School Snapshot: St. John’s College (1 = Best; 6 = Average; 12 = Worst):

• 2nd – Admission Rate
• 9th – Net Cost
• 3rd – Student-Faculty Ratio
• 10th – On-Campus Crime
• 9th – Gender & Racial Diversity
• 8th – Graduation Rate
• 11th – Post-Attendance Median Salary

“Princeton University is the best university for 2025. It only has a 4% acceptance rate, and 93% of incoming students were in the top 10% of their graduating classes,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “Princeton has one faculty member for every five students, along with a 97% graduation rate, the best in the nation. On average, during the 20 years following their graduation, people who went to Princeton earn an average of $1.05 million more than people who only have a high school diploma. That’s the sixth-best return on investment in the country.”

“The best college of 2025 is Swarthmore College, a school with an admission rate of just 7%, located in Swarthmore, PA,” Lupo added. “For the upcoming school year, 89% of enrolled students graduated in the top 10% of their high school classes, and their SAT and ACT test scores rank among the best in the country. Swarthmore has one faculty member for every eight students and a graduation rate of 94%. Over the course of 20 years after they graduate, Swarthmore grads earn an average of $750,000 more than people with only a high school diploma. Finally, Swarthmore has a very safe campus, with virtually nonexistent crime.”

The full report can be viewed online here at WalletHub.

Additional information is available in the video below.

Photo via Pixabay