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McDaniel College
Most applicants get into McDaniel College — 77.9% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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McDaniel College anchors the college town of Westminster, MD, where the private campus and town largely share a footprint.
Its highest-earning path is Accounting and Related Services, where graduates median $93,347 four years out. Faculty pay averages $101,676 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 1,617 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 76% of first-years come back for a second year.
McDaniel College won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
McDaniel College does not use test scores in admissions at all: the 77.9% who got into McDaniel College did it on GPA, coursework and application alone. No score range exists to publish.
In the Fall 2023 cycle, McDaniel College received 3,856 applications and admitted 3,223 (83.6%), with 424 enrolling.
How McDaniel College compares
| McDaniel College | Maryland median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 77.9% | 76.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $52,081 | $13,588 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $60,663 | $61,797 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, McDaniel College's median earnings are $60,663 — below the Maryland benchmark of $61,797. Weigh that against the $52,081 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
McDaniel College lists tuition at $52,081 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. McDaniel College's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $52,081 as the ceiling, not the bill.
With 1,617 undergraduates, McDaniel College is small enough that class size and faculty access are structural, not marketing claims.
63.3% graduate within six years. Roughly 37% don't — ask a McDaniel College tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at McDaniel College
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $93,347 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $78,830 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $65,411 |
| Psychology, General | $60,264 |
| Sociology | $55,851 |
| Biology, General | $51,307 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $50,185 |
| Social Work | $47,607 |
Median earnings for these 8 McDaniel College programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $60,663 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 29 additional McDaniel College programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for McDaniel College?
McDaniel College doesn't look at test scores; its 77.9% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is McDaniel College's acceptance rate?
83.6% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 3,223 admitted from 3,856 applicants.
How much does McDaniel College cost?
At McDaniel College, published tuition is $52,081 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is McDaniel College's ceiling, not a quote.
What do McDaniel College graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $60,663 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Maryland
- Stevenson University — 78.9% admitted
- Towson University — 82% admitted
- St. Mary's College of Maryland — 68.6% admitted
- Notre Dame of Maryland University — 82.2% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.