Living in an apartment or townhome in Frederick County and Harford County, Maryland, means you’re around the corner from some of the best schools and colleges the Old-Line State offers.
And, according to The Washington Post, the No. 1 asset homeowners and renters want the most.
Homebuyers and renters are “willing to give up two of the topmost desirable home features”— a garage or an updated kitchen—for better schools and more educational opportunities, two- and four-year colleges included.
Let’s review four good collegiate reasons why you’ll ace your move to Frederick, Maryland, and Aberdeen, Maryland.
Hood College
“We love lists!” Hood College, a private college in Frederick, Maryland, exclaims on its website.
A glance reveals why.
Here are the school’s rankings in the northern region, perU.S. News & World Report:
- No. 17 in best value.
- No. 28 in best undergraduate teaching.
- No. 28 in best colleges for veterans.
- No. 56 in best regional universities.
Hood also ranks as a Best Northeastern College in the Princeton Review and as a Best Value College in Money Magazine, theschool’s websitesays.
“Hood College provides a well-rounded education with all the qualities of liberal arts, while also offering a tight-knit community defined by small class sizes and personalized learning opportunities with professors,” says Mason Cavalier, the school’s media coordinator.
Nursing, certified corporate wellness specialist (CCWS) and computer science programs rank among the community college’s most popular curriculums.
In Frederick County, Maryland, the school enrolls 2,040 students, 1,185 of which are undergrads—a small, tight-knit student body that “empowers” the learning experience, Cavalier says.
“Hood is in a fantastic college town,” Cavalier adds. “Students are within walking distance of shops, galleries and restaurants as well as a vibrant downtown. Additionally, our proximity to Washington, D.C., Baltimore and the I-270 technology corridor provides students countless internship and research opportunities.”
Mount St. Mary’s University
Speaking of rankings, nearby Mount St. Mary’s University, a Catholic university in Frederick County, Maryland, ranks high in many categories, too.
The school recently placed third among Maryland’s 12 ranked public and private regional universities, and 44th in the North region of U.S. News & World Report ‘s Best Regional Universities rankings.
“These rankings are a result of the university’s focus on student success as demonstrated by our excellent academic and co-curricular programs with top-notch faculty,” President Timothy E. Trainor says, adding that the school had its second-largest number of undergraduates ever.
The school in Frederick County, Maryland, also ranks 45th in best colleges for veterans and No. 23 for best value.
“These rankings reflect the university’s No. 1 priority of student success as evidenced by our top-notch curricular and co-curricular programs,” Trainor says.
The school’s more well-known programs, per U.S. News & World Report, include biomedical sciences, business, communications, education and computer sciences.
Frederick Community College
Hood College and Mount St. Mary’s University are excellent schools. However, neither are public; they’re private.
There are no public higher education institutions in Frederick County, Maryland, except one—Frederick Community College (FCC), a fact not lost on Caroline Cole, the school’s communications coordinator.
“FCC is distinguished by its quality and affordability, making it attainable and valuable for local students,” Cole says. “Accredited programs, comprehensive instruction and affordable costs of attendance have made FCC the learning destination for more than 200,000 students since 1957.”
FCC offers more than 110 programs of study, Cole says. Popular areas of study include health care, business and cybersecurity.
“One of our unique programs is our Parents Lead program,” Cole adds. “Designed especially for financially-eligible parents, the program provides specialized curriculum and advising services as well as FCC foundation scholarships for childcare while parents attend classes, or for other costs associated with child-rearing.”
FCC is ranked the sixth-best community college in Maryland, according to Niche.com, which compiles rankings of the best school districts, retirement communities and neighborhoods across the country.
Harford County Community College
According to a recent survey by the Office of Institutional Research at Harford Community College (HCC), nine out of 10 students said they would attend HCC again if they had to do it over.
Sheila Terry, assistant director for public relations, knows why.
“(We provide) high-quality learning experiences for the community, offering cutting-edge programs, classrooms and training—all at a tremendous value,” Terry says. “We’re the anchor institution for higher education in the county, and our campus is beautiful with top-quality facilities.”
HCC in Harford County, Maryland, offers more than 90 affordable degree and certificate programs and several noncredit continuing education courses. Popular programs include nursing, business administration, psychology, criminal justice, biology, engineering, information assurance, cybersecurity and computer information systems.
The school enrolls more than 5,200 college-credit students, and tuition is currently $132.87 per credit hour—"still an excellent value,” Terry advises.
“HCC provides a vibrant and affordable collegiate experience in a diverse and inclusive setting that’s close to home with social, athletic and cultural classes and events for the entire community,” Terry says.
Niche.com ranks HCC as Maryland’s fifth-best community college.
Whether you’re a new resident living in an apartment or townhome in Frederick County, Maryland or Harford County, Maryland, or a long-time tenant, a top-tier education and promising career is just a quick road trip away.