Annually, around 290,000 students (undergraduate, graduate, & professional) are estimated to enroll at Maryland universities and colleges. Women accounted for 58.2% of all students. For undergraduates, Maryland residents constituted 93% of enrollees at community colleges, 75% at public four-year institutions, and 53% at independent universities and colleges. Among the colleges in Baltimore County, university system of Maryland – Baltimore campus and Towson University are considered to be the most prestigious.

University System of Maryland has a branch campus in Baltimore County known as UMBC - University of Maryland, Baltimore County). The University System of Maryland (USM) is a public corporation and charter school system comprising 13 Maryland institutions of higher education. It is the 12th largest university system in the United States.
Towson University formerly known as Towson State University, and before that Towson State Teachers' College is also located in Towson. Towson University, located on a 300+ acre campus in Towson, Maryland, is part of the University System of Maryland.