An important source of ideas, skills and continuing educational opportunities, Maryland is one of the country's key research centers. The state continues to enhance the relationship between universities and industry. Virtually every kind of training and research required by business and industry can be obtained from an institution located in the state.

More than 325,000 students currently attend 61 accredited colleges and universities in Maryland. Post-graduate education is a special strength of the Washington-Baltimore region, where opportunities are available for advanced work in nearly all disciplines.

A steady interchange of ideas and information exists between the universities and nearby centers of scientific learning and activity. The University of Maryland University College—part of the University System of Maryland—is a national leader in "distance learning," for example, and offers courses and services on-site in every county across the state.

Educational links to business include: The University of Maryland, College Park, home of the Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel at the University of Maryland and a nationally ranked college of engineering, is the system's flagship campus. It serves as a resource for linking the R&D expertise of the entire university system to both new and established Maryland businesses.

The The Fraunhofer Center for Experimental Software Engineering at the University of Maryland is an innovative new center for software engineering, applied research and technology transfer. Partnered with Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, Europe's largest and most renowned organization for applied technological research and development, the center will offer companies ways to better control, manage, predict, improve and evaluate their software efforts.

Together, USM's institutions offer nationally recognized programs in subjects ranging from physics to computer science, biotechnology to business. The Financial Times of London ranked the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland College Park fifth among business schools at public institutions in the U.S.  The University's graduate and undergraduate programs in management information systems are also ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

USM's five business schools are supplemented by a complete range of additional programs and services for businesses at all 13 institutions. Services include technology transfer, business incubators and small-business development.

The Johns Hopkins University    

The Johns Hopkins University was America's first graduate school and continues to be an international leader in medicine, basic sciences and international affairs. A recent survey by U.S. News & World Report placed Johns Hopkins 13th overall among top national universities. Major research components include:

• The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), noted for its contributions to the applied sciences in a variety of fields, with its official mission to enhance national security and other human needs through the application of science and technology.
• The Johns Hopkins University Information Security Institute (ISI), which is the University's focal point for research and education in information security, assurance and privacy, with input from academia, industry and government.
• The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), which works with NASA to manage the Hubble Space Telescope and develop other space observational instruments. 

Johns Hopkins ranks first among U.S. colleges and universities in research and development expenditures, totaling $1.50 billion in FY 2006, with a first place ranking also in federally funded research ($1.31 billion). The University's graduate programs in biological sciences, medicine and engineering are among the best in the U.S. In addition to its public health program, the biomedical engineering program—a joint venture of its engineering and medical schools—were ranked top in the nation.

For additional information on individual colleges and universities, please visit one of the pages listed below, or visit the Maryland Higher Education Commission on the Web.

• University System of Maryland
• Other 4-year Public Colleges and Universities
• 4-year Independent Colleges and Universities
• 2-year Public Colleges (Community Colleges) 
• 2-year Independent Colleges

Additional education data for states, Maryland counties and major metro areas can be found in the Comparisons Tool .