Partly because of Maryland's large number of government and professional workers, educational attainments compare favorably with those of the other South Atlantic states. As of 2000, 83.8% of all Marylanders had completed high school, and 31.4% had at least four years of college (the US average was 24.4%). Maryland students must pass state competency exams in order to graduate from high school.
The total enrollment for fall 1999 in Maryland's public schools stood at 846,582. Of these, 607,125 attended schools from kindergarten through grade eight, and 239,457 attended high school. Minority students made up approximately 47% of the total enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools in 2001. Total enrollment was estimated at 853,406 in fall 2000 and is expected to reach 862,000 by fall 2005. Enrollment in nonpublic schools in fall 2001 was 144,131. Expenditures for public education in 2000/01 were estimated at $6,633,406.
As of fall 2000, there were 354,477 students enrolled in college or graduate school. In the same year Maryland had 57 degree-granting institutions. In 1997, minority students comprised 33.3% of total postsecondary enrollment. The institutions of higher education in Maryland are organized as follows: (1) the public four-year colleges and universities, (2) the community colleges, (3) the independent colleges and universities, and (4) the private career schools.
The state's public four-year institutions include the University of Maryland System, Morgan State University, and St. Mary's College of Maryland. The University of Maryland System is comprised of 13 separate degree-granting institutions located throughout the state. In addition, there are two research and public service institutions reporting to the System—the Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies and the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute. These institutions are governed by a single board of regents and a system administration. Morgan State University, the designated public urban teaching university, is governed by a single board of regents. Morgan is one of Maryland's four historically black institutions. St. Mary's College of Maryland, the state's public honors college, is the state's only "state-related" institution. As such, the college has more operational autonomy than the other public four-year institutions, particularly concerning procurement, budget, and personnel administration.
The 16 community colleges are two-year, open-admission institutions with courses and programs leading to certificates and associate degrees, as well as career-oriented and continuing education/community service programs. They receive their funding from three sources: 1) state funding through a funding formula; 2) local funding through a negotiated budget process; and 3) students' tuition and fees. Baltimore City Community College became a state institution in 1990/91 and receives the majority of its funding from the state. The state provides funding to 15 independent colleges and universities in Maryland under a statutory formula. Eligible independent institutions must meet certain standards concerning the date of establishment, type of degrees conferred, accreditation, and affirmative action programs.
St. John's College in Annapolis is known for its unique program that includes study of the ancient Greek and Latin classics in their original languages. Private career schools in Maryland provide job preparatory training for students in a wide variety of fields, including business, computers, travel, truck driving, mechanics, electronics, allied health, cosmetology, and barbering.
The Maryland Higher Education Commission serves as the state's agency that provides, as part of its primary mission, coordination, regulatory oversight, and program approval for Maryland's postsecondary education system. The State Scholarship Administration oversees 18 different state scholarship programs.