Hood College: Rankings, Courses, Admissions, Tuition Fee, Cost of Attendance & Scholarships

Popular Courses and Fees at Hood College 2027

Hood College charges USD 24,900 per semester for full-time undergraduate tuition and USD 535 to 1,100 per credit hour for graduate programmes, grouped by academic cluster. Master’s programmes typically run 30 to 36 credits over 1.5 to 2 years, while the MBA is a 36-credit programme.

Hood College PG Fees for Indian Students 2027

Annual fees listed below reflect the 2026-27 published rate for each programme, converted at 1 USD = INR 94.5.

Hood College UG Fees for Indian Students 2027

All undergraduate majors carry the same base tuition of USD 49,800 per year, with the comprehensive fee adding USD 1,100 annually.

Insider note: Indian applicants concentrate in MS Computer Science, MS Cybersecurity and MS Information Technology because these qualify as STEM designated programmes, extending post-study OPT eligibility to 36 months.

Read More: Hood College Fees and Cost of Living Guide

Hood College Admission 2027

Hood College runs two intakes each year for Indian applicants: Fall (August) as the primary window and Spring (January) as a secondary option. Both undergraduate and graduate admissions operate on a rolling review basis.

Planning note: Book the F-1 visa slot within 15 days of receiving the I-20 form, since Chennai, Mumbai and New Delhi consulates see peak load between May and August.

Read More: Hood College Admissions Guide for Indian Students

Hood College Admission Requirements for Indian Applicants 2027

Hood College asks Indian applicants to meet baseline academic, language and financial thresholds set by its international admissions office.

Graduate applicants:

• Academic: Bachelor’s degree with 55% or CGPA 5.5/10 (recommended; official page requires an accredited bachelor’s).
• English test: TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo English Test 100 or PTE Academic 53.
• Credential evaluation: Course-by-course WES or ECE report of all post-secondary transcripts.
• Financials: Bank statement showing at least USD 45,000 (INR 42.5 lakh) for I-20 issuance.

Undergraduate applicants:

• Academic: Class 12 completion with 70% to 85% (recommended) across five academic subjects.
• English test: TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 100 or PTE 53; native-English applicants are exempt.
• Financials: Affidavit of Support plus bank statement for one year of tuition and living costs.

Key insight: Hood accepts the Duolingo English Test at a competitive 100 threshold, making it a cost-effective option for Indian applicants unable to schedule IELTS or TOEFL slots quickly.

Hood College Acceptance Rate 2027

Hood College operates a moderately selective admissions model with an acceptance rate of 71% (estimated), based on publicly disclosed enrolment funnel data. The college does not publish an official acceptance rate on its admissions site, so this figure should be treated as directional.

Strong Class 12 scores, a clear statement of purpose and complete financial documentation lift the effective admit probability well above this baseline for Indian applicants. Programmes such as MS Nursing and the Doctor of Business Administration apply tighter cohort caps than the college-wide rate suggests.

Reality check: The 71% rate reflects overall admit volume, not competitiveness by programme; STEM masters cohorts routinely admit a smaller share of applicants than the headline figure.

Read More: Hood College Acceptance Rate

Hood College Fees and Cost of Living for Indian Students 2027

Total annual on-campus cost of attendance for undergraduate international students sits at USD 73,468 (INR 69.4 lakh), spanning tuition, room, food and personal expenses. Graduate cost varies by cluster but typically lands between USD 30,000 and 45,000 per year including living costs.

Hood College Tuition Fees for Indian Students 2027

Tuition is billed per semester for undergraduates and per credit hour for graduate students, with distinct rates across five academic clusters.

Monthly Cost of Living in Frederick for Indian Students

Frederick offers lower living costs than nearby Washington D.C. or Baltimore, based on Hood’s official cost of attendance breakdown.

Insider note: Off-campus one-bedroom apartments in Frederick rent for USD 1,200 to 1,600 (INR 1.13 to 1.51 lakh) per month, so first-year students often save by keeping the double-occupancy campus housing.

Read More: Cost of Living in USA for Indian Students

Hood College Campus, Facilities and Student Life

The Hood College campus stretches across 50 acres in downtown Frederick, Maryland, less than an hour by road from Washington D.C. and Baltimore.

• Location and transport: Regular MARC commuter trains link Frederick to Washington D.C. Union Station in about 90 minutes.
• Housing: On-campus housing costs USD 8,600 (INR 8.13 lakh) per year, with double rooms guaranteed to full-time undergraduates.
• Academic facilities: The Beneficial-Hodson Library, Hodson Science and Technology Center, and Ronald J. Volpe Athletic Center anchor academic and student life.
• Indian student community: Students from more than 25 countries study at Hood, with active graduate cohorts in CS, IT and cybersecurity.
• Student clubs: More than 50 clubs and 500 events each year cover cultural, professional and volunteer interests.

What Indian students say: Frederick offers a quieter lifestyle than large US metros, small class sizes allow direct faculty access, and the STEM masters cohort has strong internal referral networks for internships.

Hood College Scholarships 2027

Hood College awards more than USD 6 million (INR 56.7 crore) in merit-based aid each year, though most institutional scholarships are reserved for domestic first-year and transfer students. Indian graduate applicants can access graduate assistantships and external funding routes.

Planning note: Contact target department chairs before submitting the application to signal graduate assistantship interest, since these positions close early and are allocated department by department.

Read More: Hood College Scholarships Guide

Hood College Rankings 2027

Hood College holds a #55 rank in US News Best Regional Universities North 2026, its primary national ranking. The college is not assessed in the QS World, THE World or ARWU global lists, which is standard for small US regional universities under 3,000 enrolments.

Hood also earned recognition on the US News Best Undergraduate Teaching list and Best Value Schools list for the Regional North category in the 2026 edition.

Key insight: Regional North rankings carry weight with US employers hiring in the mid-Atlantic corridor, and the Maryland State Higher Education Commission accreditation ensures degree recognition for Indian NARIC equivalency.

Read More: Hood College Rankings Analysis

Hood College Placements and Career Outcomes 2027

Hood College reports strong post-study employment outcomes for its international graduate cohort, driven by a 100% OPT approval rate and active career support infrastructure.

• OPT approval rate: 100% for international graduate students in the 2025-26 cycle.
• Average OPT starting salary: USD 71,034 (INR 67.1 lakh) per year across the 2025-26 approved cohort.
• Five-year salary range: USD 70,000 to 90,000 (INR 66.2 to 85.1 lakh) for OPT graduates from 2020 to 2025.
• Sectors: Cybersecurity, information technology, biomedical research and biotech, healthcare and business analytics.
• Career support: Catherine Filene Shouse Center runs internship placement, resume review and OPT documentation clinics through the year.

Insider note: Proximity to the I-270 tech corridor and Fort Detrick opens local internships in biotech and federal contracting, which convert to STEM OPT roles for CS, IT and biomedical masters graduates.

Hood College vs Peer Universities

Peer set covers other private Maryland regional universities that Indian applicants shortlist alongside Hood for masters programmes in CS, IT and business.

Hood stands out among peers for its confirmed 100% OPT approval track record and its concentration of STEM designated masters programmes. Frederick’s cost of living also runs materially lower than Baltimore or Washington D.C., trimming annual living costs by 15% to 20%.

Hood College suits Indian STEM masters applicants who prioritise a small-cohort teaching environment, verified OPT outcomes and total investment near USD 40,000 per year against a median starting salary of USD 71,034. Its proximity to the I-270 technology corridor compounds the advantage for CS, IT and cybersecurity cohorts.

Applicants seeking large research universities, PhD funding at scale or ranked global brand recognition should look beyond Hood, since the college does not appear in QS or THE world lists. A stronger alternative for such profiles would be larger USA universities such as the University of Maryland College Park.