Hood vs. McDaniel College

Comparable Facts

Compare Hood College in Frederick, MD with McDaniel College in Westminster, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

McDaniel College is larger than Hood based on total student enrollment (2,868 students vs. 2,101 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hood College is located in Frederick, MD (Small City setting); McDaniel College is in Westminster, MD (Small Suburban setting).
• Hood College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. McDaniel College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Hood College 10:1; McDaniel College 13:1.

Hood vs. McDaniel College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hood or McDaniel College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Hood College than McDaniel College ($23,350 vs. $24,497).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McDaniel College are 19.9% lower than at Hood College ($12,974 vs. $16,200).
• McDaniel College is 9.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hood (about $4,381 more per year; $52,081.00 vs. $47,700.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.2% higher at McDaniel College than at Hood College (about $4,381 more per year; $52,081.00 vs. $47,700.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Hood College as at McDaniel College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by McDaniel College students is 7.3% larger than aid received by Hood College students ($40,721 vs. $37,957).

Hood vs. McDaniel College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hood or McDaniel College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between McDaniel College and Hood.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hood - Test-free; McDaniel College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Hood Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman McDaniel College students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Hood (3.41).
• McDaniel College has a higher acceptance rate (77.9%) than Hood (77.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12% at Hood vs. 13.7% at McDaniel College.

Hood vs. McDaniel College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hood and McDaniel College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• McDaniel College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Hood College's (68%).
• Graduates from McDaniel College earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than Hood graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,400 vs. $47,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, McDaniel College and Hood graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, McDaniel College and Hood graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More McDaniel College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hood students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 73%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.