[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”heading-4″]Maryland offers many acclaimed higher education choices for students, including a variety of online programs.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Earning a [hen-ui-link href=”/rankings/bachelors/”]bachelor’s degree[/hen-ui-link] helps professionals expand their job opportunities and increase their earning potential. Many of the best colleges in Maryland offer online programs that appeal to both busy students and working professionals.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Online schools in Maryland work together to improve the quality of distance learning. [hen-ui-link href=”http://marylandonline.org/”]MarylandOnline[/hen-ui-link], an organization founded in 1999, counts 20 Maryland colleges among its members. The organization connects future and current online learners with resources to improve their online learning experiences.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Maryland’s online schools also offer tuition discounts. At the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.umgc.edu/costs-and-financial-aid/tuition/”]University of Maryland Global Campus[/hen-ui-link], for example, out-of-state residents receive a significant tuition reduction compared to [hen-ui-link href=”https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d18/tables/dt18_330.20.asp”]out-of-state tuition[/hen-ui-link] at Maryland public universities.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Our ranking lists the best online colleges in Maryland to help prospective students find the right fit for their academic and professional goals.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]The Best Online Colleges in Maryland[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-grid columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”] [/hen-ui-grid] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ class=”text-tertiary”]Featured Online Schools[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”editorialListings” /] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Employment in Maryland[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Maryland’s [hen-ui-link href=”https://open.maryland.gov/industries/”]major industries[/hen-ui-link] include the biohealth and life sciences fields, information technology and cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing. Financial services, aerospace, and the energy sector also rank as top industries in Maryland. Thanks to its close connection with Washington, D.C., Maryland’s workforce also includes many federal employees. Online colleges in Maryland also prepare graduates for careers in other growing fields, including business, healthcare, and education.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Maryland has continued to show economic strength compared with other states. Maryland’s unemployment rate in June 2020 [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.md.htm/”]reached 8.0%[/hen-ui-link] — below the national average of [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.us.htm/”]11.1%[/hen-ui-link]. The cost of living in Maryland remains [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/state/maryland/”]slightly above the national average[/hen-ui-link], but Maryland workers earn a [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_md.htm/”]mean annual wage[/hen-ui-link] of more than $60,000 per year, which outpaces the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm/”]national wage[/hen-ui-link] of $53,490.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The following data on the highest-paying and fastest-growing careers can help prospective and current students plan for entering the workforce.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-table] [hen-ui-table-caption]Highest Paying Careers[/hen-ui-table-caption] [hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Highest-Paying Career[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Mean Salary[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Projected Job Growth (2018-2028)[/hen-ui-table-head] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-body] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Highest-Paying Career”]Surgeons[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Mean Salary”]$278,720[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2018-2028)”]11.6%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Highest-Paying Career”]Obstetricians and Gynecologists[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Mean Salary”]$211,430[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2018-2028)”]13.2%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Highest-Paying Career”]General Internal Medicine Physicians[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Mean Salary”]$203,270[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2018-2028)”]22.3%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Highest-Paying Career”]Chief Executives[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Mean Salary”]$196,700[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2018-2028)”]-4.4%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Highest-Paying Career”]Psychiatrists[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Mean Salary”]$195,260[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2018-2028)”]28.6%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-body] [/hen-ui-table] Source: [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_md.htm/”]BLS[/hen-ui-link], [hen-ui-link href=”https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm/”]ProjectionsCentral[/hen-ui-link] [hen-ui-table] [hen-ui-table-caption]Fastest Growing Careers[/hen-ui-table-caption] [hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Fastest Growing Careers[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Mean Salary[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Projected Job Growth (2018-2028)[/hen-ui-table-head] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-body] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Fastest Growing Careers”]Solar Photovoltaic Installer[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Mean Salary”]$47,180[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2018-2028)”]56.3%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Fastest Growing Careers”]Occupational Therapy Assistants[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Mean Salary”]$63,810[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2018-2028)”]52.4%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Fastest Growing Careers”]Home Health Aides[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Mean Salary”]$27,460[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2018-2028)”]43.9%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Fastest Growing Careers”]Physician Assistants[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Mean Salary”]$109,620[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2018-2028)”]41.7%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Fastest Growing Careers”]Personal Care Aides[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Mean Salary”]$27,420[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Projected Job Growth (2018-2028)”]41.7%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-body] [/hen-ui-table] Source: [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_md.htm/”]BLS[/hen-ui-link], [hen-ui-link href=”https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm/”]ProjectionsCentral[/hen-ui-link] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Associate and Graduate Degrees[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In addition to bachelor’s programs, online schools in Maryland offer associate and graduate degrees. Since the switch to mostly online-only education during the pandemic, Maryland’s colleges have expanded their options for students seeking a distance learning format.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Students can earn associate degrees in business, which can be used to enter the workforce or transfer into bachelor’s programs.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Earning an associate degree through a community college offers additional savings. Maryland’s public community colleges charge around $4,000 per year in tuition and fees, while public four-year institutions cost over $9,000 per year, according to the [hen-ui-link href=”https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d18/tables/dt18_330.20.asp/” target=”_blank”]National Center for Education Statistics[/hen-ui-link]. Private schools charge nearly $42,000 per year on average in Maryland.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Learners can also pursue graduate degrees in high-demand fields like business, education, nursing, and engineering. For example, the University of Maryland offers an [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/office-career-services/students/online-mba/” target=”_blank”]online MBA program[/hen-ui-link] and [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.nursing.umaryland.edu/academics/online/” target=”/"_blank"”]online nursing graduate programs[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While online programs may offer the same coursework as on-campus programs, distance students complete any in-person requirements in their local area. For example, business enrollees pursue internships with local businesses, while nursing students meet clinical requirements at healthcare facilities in their cities.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Is Online College Cheaper in Maryland?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Many online colleges in Maryland offer tuition discounts for in-state students or fully online learners. By researching affordable schools and pursuing online degrees, students can save money.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How Long Does It Take to Get an Online Degree in Maryland?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Earning an online bachelor’s degree typically takes four years for full-time students. Many of the best online colleges in Maryland offer asynchronous, accelerated, or part-time options for online learners.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What Is the Most Popular Degree in Maryland?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The most popular degrees in Maryland include business, biology, computer science, and psychology. Students in Maryland also frequently earn degrees in education, healthcare, the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Does an Online Degree Have the Same Value as an On-Campus Degree?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]An online degree from an accredited institution meets the same high academic standards as an on-campus degree. Many online schools in Maryland grant identical diplomas for online and in-person graduates.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Is Maryland a Good State For Higher Education?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Yes. Maryland ranks in the top 10 for its four-year graduation rate and the number of adult residents who have college degrees.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [/hen-ui-accordion] [hen-ui-section-header title=”Popular with our students.” /] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”2-col” ids=”970,1538,905″][/hen-ui-article-row]