Most Selective Maryland Colleges

Maryland has 5 four-year colleges that accept 50% or fewer of applicants, ranked from most to least selective.

Johns Hopkins University is the hardest to get into in Maryland, accepting just 6% of 45,895 applicants. Also highly selective: United States Naval Academy, University of Maryland College Park and Washington Adventist University.

Selectivity does not always equal academic difficulty. Some schools admit a small share of applicants because demand exceeds capacity, not because admission standards are extreme. If you need safety schools, see our highest acceptance rate colleges in Maryland. For academically demanding options, explore colleges with the highest SAT, highest ACT, and highest GPA averages.

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Maryland Low Acceptance % Public Private 4 Year

  • Private 4 Year
  • Baltimore, MD
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • 6% acceptance rate
  • Jan 3 application deadline

Johns Hopkins is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate biomedical engineering, public health, and international studies. Most undergraduates study on the Homewood campus in north Baltimore.

#10 Best Colleges in America 10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1520-1570
  • Avg GPA 3.92
  • Net Price $26,017
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Annapolis, Maryland
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • 9% acceptance rate
  • Jan 31 application deadline

Naval Academy is a highly selective federal service academy known for undergraduate engineering and oceanography. The historic campus sits on the Severn River in Annapolis.

10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1210-1410
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.8
  • Net Price -
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • College Park, MD
  • 4.8 | 6 reviews
  • 45% acceptance rate

UMD is a large public university known for undergraduate computer science, engineering, and journalism. The College Park campus sits just outside Washington, D.C.

#8 Best Public Universities in America 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1400-1530
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.84
  • Net Price $16,581
Details
Washington Adventist University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Takoma Park, MD
  • | 0 reviews
  • 46% acceptance rate
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Washington Adventist is a private Seventh-day Adventist university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The small campus is in Takoma Park just outside Washington, D.C.

  • SAT Range 860-1130
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.24
  • Net Price $18,154
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Baltimore, MD
  • | 0 reviews
  • 46% acceptance rate
  • Jul 15 application deadline

Coppin State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing and teacher education. The urban campus sits in west Baltimore.

#7 Best Public Universities in Maryland 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1020
  • Avg GPA 2.62
  • Net Price $9,831
Details