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Colleges in and near Fort Meade

Bowie State University is 6.1 miles from Fort Meade

No college sits inside Fort Meade’s boundary, but Bowie State University’s campus in Bowie, with 5,649 students on campus, is 6.1 miles from the center of town, and Howard Community College is 10.4 miles away in Columbia. About 14% of Fort Meade’s residents are enrolled in college, above Maryland (7%).

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Fort Meade. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
12
88,604 students on campus
Nearest college
6.1 mi
Bowie State
Residents in college
14%
Above MD (7%)
Nearest community college
10.4 mi
Howard · $4,080 tuition
Nearest public university
6.1 mi
Bowie State · $9,218 in-state
Median household income
$103K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Fort Meade

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university 6.1 miles awayBowie State University has 5,649 students on campus in Bowie, 38% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Bowie StateLiving in Maryland, Bowie State University charges $9,218 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $19,938. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 10.4 miles awayHoward Community College in Columbia: tuition and fees $4,080 a year for Maryland residents.Students are 14% of residentsAbove Maryland (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Fort Meade

Four private colleges within 12.6 miles, six public colleges within 14.9 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Maryland-College ParkUniversity of Maryland-Baltimore CountyAnne ArundelFort Meade
University or collegeCommunity college
Bowie State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 5,649 on campus · 6.1 mi · Bowie72%admitted$19knet price38%graduate$55kearningsLincoln College of Technology-ColumbiaUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,075 on campus · 6.9 mi · Columbia$34knet price68%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Capitol Technology UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 242 on campus · 7 mi · Laurel · mostly online74%admitted$22knet price43%graduate$85kearnings73% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Maryland University of Integrative HealthUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 131 on campus · 8.8 mi · Laurel · mostly online80% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Howard Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,598 on campus · 10.4 mi · Columbia$11knet price24%graduate$49kearningsTuition and fees: $4,080 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyUniversity or college · Public · 13,491 on campus · 10.6 mi · Baltimore72%admitted$16knet price70%graduate$70kearningsFortis College-LandoverUniversity or college · For-profit · 576 on campus · 12.6 mi · Landover$27knet price47%graduate$37kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Anne Arundel Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,890 on campus · 13 mi · Arnold$15knet price31%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $4,322 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Maryland-College ParkUniversity or college · Public · 39,078 on campus · 13.5 mi · College Park45%admitted$16knet price89%graduate$83kearningsUniversity of Maryland, BaltimoreUniversity or college · Public · 5,588 on campus · 14.1 mi · Baltimore$88kearningsUniversity of Maryland Global CampusUniversity or college · Public · 6,469 on campus · 14.5 mi · Adelphi · mostly online$22knet price33%graduate$65kearnings89% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Coppin State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 1,817 on campus · 14.9 mi · Baltimore46%admitted$10knet price26%graduate$46kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Fort Meade’s median household income ($103,261) falls.

Howard Community College10.4 mi · Columbia · sticker $16,774 · tuition $4,080$14,104a year
Anne Arundel Community College13 mi · Arnold · sticker $19,841 · tuition $4,322$17,116a year
Coppin State University14.9 mi · Baltimore · sticker $23,748$17,141a year
University of Maryland-College Park13.5 mi · College Park · sticker $29,299$18,250a year
University of Maryland-Baltimore County10.6 mi · Baltimore · sticker $28,576$22,172a year
Bowie State University6.1 mi · Bowie · sticker $25,220$22,808a year
Capitol Technology University7 mi · Laurel · mostly online · sticker $42,471$27,961a year
Fortis College-Landover12.6 mi · Landover · sticker $33,587$30,140a year
Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia6.9 mi · Columbia · sticker $38,679$36,772a year
University of Maryland Global Campus14.5 mi · Adelphi · mostly online · sticker $25,400—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Fort Meade: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Bowie StateHowardUniversity of Maryland-Baltimore CountyAnne ArundelUniversity of Maryland-College ParkUniversity of Maryland Global Campus
University of Maryland-College Park89% graduate$83k earnings$19k typical debt
University of Maryland-Baltimore County70% graduate$70k earnings$20k typical debt
Anne Arundel Community College31% graduate$46k earnings$8k typical debt
Howard Community College24% graduate$49k earnings$10k typical debt
University of Maryland Global Campus33% graduate$65k earnings$21k typical debt
Bowie State University38% graduate$55k earnings$23k typical debt
Coppin State University26% graduate$46k earnings$25k typical debt
Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia68% graduate$39k earnings*$11k typical debt
Fortis College-Landover47% graduate$37k earnings*$10k typical debt
Capitol Technology University43% graduate$85k earnings$20k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia (8); Fortis College-Landover (3).

Questions about college near Fort Meade

Is Fort Meade a college town?

No. About 14 of every 100 Fort Meade residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Maryland (7). The nearest campus, Bowie State University, is 6.1 miles away in Bowie.

What colleges are near Fort Meade?

12 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Maryland-College Park (13.5 miles, 39,078 students on campus), the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (10.6 miles, 13,491) and Anne Arundel Community College (13 miles, 7,890).

What is the closest community college to Fort Meade, and what does it cost?

Howard Community College in Columbia, 10.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,080 a year for Maryland residents; the federal net price, $11,133, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Bowie State University cost if we live in Maryland?

Tuition and fees are $9,218 a year in-state and $19,938 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $17,071 (under $30,000 income) to $24,919 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Fort Meade. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →