Best Community Colleges in Maryland of 2024

Located in Westminster, Maryland, Carroll Community College offers small classes taught by faculty members who are experts in their field. The average class size is 20, allowing for individual attention from professors, 91 percent of whom have a master's degree or higher. Classes are offered at times convenient for students, including evenings, online, and Saturday. Classes feature transferable credits, making it easy for students to continue their education at a four-year institution following graduation. Carroll's staff works hard to ensure students have the support they need. Every credit student has access to both an academic advisor and a career counselor. An academic center offers free tutoring for all courses. For working professionals, Carroll has flexible non-credit vocational development and training programs, including resources for entrepreneurs and workforce development programs for businesses and employers.

Located in Wye Mills, Maryland, with a satellite campus in Cambridge, Chesapeake College offers eight career pathways in humanities, business, law, education, environmental studies, healthcare, STEM, and skilled trades. Within each of these paths are more than 70 major programs, as well as certificate programs, career training, non-credit workforce training, and lifelong learning. The college is supportive of dual enrollment programs with area high schools, allowing students to earn college credit while still attending high school. Dual enrollment students pay only 75 percent of the regular tuition and have the opportunity to experience college-level studies in CC's academic programs. Workforce development training programs are also available in skilled trades, education, and healthcare, and students in these areas are eligible for financial aid.

The College of Southern Maryland offers classes to 18,000+ students at four regional campuses in La Plata, Leonardtown, Prince Frederick, and Hughesville. The student-faculty ratio is 17:1. Ninety-five percent of the faculty hold a master's or doctorate in their fields. CSM has more than 200 transfer admission agreements with 50+ four-year colleges and universities across the country, including the University of Maryland, Salisbury University, and George Mason University. CSM has three academic units: the School of Liberal Arts, the School of Professional and Technical Studies, and the School of Science and Health, which together offer more than 100 programs to credit students. Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs are available, including ESOL and GED preparation, as are workforce training and personal enrichment certificate programs.

Anne Arundel Community College was established in 1961 and is currently the largest single-campus community college in Maryland, with a combined enrollment of 26,000+ credit and non-credit students. AACC's Military/Veteran Resource Center offers assistance to prospective military, active-duty military, veterans, and their family members, with advisement, educational planning, financial aid consultation, and more. The college also offers services to those stationed at nearby Fort Meade. Their credit courses are sorted into 11 broad fields of interest: law and criminal justice, teacher education, and engineering and math. Job training programs are available in health and medical fields, real estate, food and beverage management, and more, while classes for personal enrichment range from floral design to personal finance.

Garrett College is located in western Maryland on the shores of Deep Creek Lake. Their proximity to the lake and rural location has led to two signature programs: Outdoor Leadership and Adventure Education and Natural Resources and Wildlife Technology. These are only two of the school's 35+ academic and workforce development programs, including addiction counseling, business administration, and cybersecurity. The student-faculty ratio is 13:1, and the average GPA of graduates is 3.25/4.0. Unlike many community colleges, Garret has two residence halls for students. Tuition is very reasonable, with Garrett County residents paying only $99 per credit hour, while out-of-area Maryland residents pay $285 per credit hour. Ninety percent of the students receive financial aid and scholarships.

Frederick Community College, located in Frederick, Maryland, offers more than 85 degree and certificate programs, including credit, continuing education, and workforce development. Classes are offered in person and online during the day, evenings, and weekends. High school students can access college courses through FCC's Open Campus and High School-Based Dual Enrollment programs. Forty-one percent of FCC students graduate within a two-year window of time. Popular programs at the school include health sciences, STEM programs, business, and arts and humanities. FCC is especially known for its Hospitality, Culinary, and Tourism Institute, which offers baking and pastry arts programs, a culinary skills certificate, and an associate's degree in hospitality management.