A small college can offer a big return on investment by concentrating on doing what it does well. Hood College, located in Frederick, Maryland, 45 miles from both Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, has strong programs in education, business, nursing, and psychology, and pre-professional pathways to law, medicine, dentistry, and veterinary schools. It prioritizes experiential learning and inclusivity.

Hood is a liberal arts college of around 1200 undergraduates with an average class size of 15 and a student-to-faculty ratio of 11 to 1. All classes are taught by professors, none by teacher assistants. Director of Undergraduate Admissions Nikki Bamonti spoke with D.C.-area counselors on November 19, 2025, and shared Hood’s institutional priorities as being:

• student focused
• making post-secondary education accessible
• community and inclusivity
• hands-on learning
• outcomes (Hood boasts a 99% placement rate.)

Who thrives at Hood?

People who are self-advocates, who are willing to seek out and take advantage of the many opportunities offered at Hood. There’s no Greek life or football “rah-rah,” so Hood students tend to be a little nontraditional, or “quirky.” It’s a great place for the B+ student and the undecided. Hood used to require that students wait until the end of sophomore year to declare a major. Today, they encourage choosing a major in the fourth semester, though those who wish to declare earlier may do so. Nursing, however, is a direct-admit program.

Hood guarantees housing for four years and you must live on campus for three years unless your family lives within 30 miles of campus. Hood is about 70% residential. Most of the population comes from Maryland (60%) and nearby states of Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, and New Jersey. Athletes make up 40% of the undergraduate population.

Frederick provides diverse opportunities

Frederick is the fastest-growing city in the fastest-growing county (Frederick County) in Maryland. At nearly 90,000, the city surpasses the size of Annapolis, the state capital, and its quaint downtown area attracts students on weekends. A 10-minute walk gets you from Hood to the center of downtown, which has a park surrounding Carroll Creek and plenty of restaurants and specialty shops. For entertainment on a larger scale, Baltimore and D.C. are less than an hour away. These two cities, nearby Fort Detrick, and the tech corridor between Frederick and D.C. provide a multitude of internship opportunities. Nursing students can intern in the hospital adjacent to the health sciences building.

Traditions strengthen community

All the walkways at Hood converge at a wisteria-covered pergola, where “only kind words” can be said. A tradition dating back to Hood’s days as a women’s college says if you kiss a boy in the pergola, he’ll become your future husband. Because it’s a Maryland school, even though it’s closer to the mountains than the Chesapeake Bay, Hood hosts a yearly crab feast.

Honors College connects disciplines

Academically curious students with at least a 3.5 GPA may be considered for the Honors College. To apply, check the box on the application and submit a writing sample in addition to the regular application. The Honors College fosters cross-disciplinary connections. Most courses are co-taught by faculty from different fields. Field trips and events help build community. About 60 students in an incoming class of 300 will be offered a place in the Honors College. These students get a $2,000-per-year scholarship.

Hood offers combined degree programs

In their junior year, students can decide to combine their bachelor’s with a master’s degree, such as a master’s of business administration. One common combination is a B.A. in psychology with an M.S. in school counseling or clinical mental health. Education majors can obtain their M.S. right at Hood and have rich placement opportunities in burgeoning Frederick County. Students can also pursue a B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy leading to a Master of Science in Environmental Biology. Hood is close enough to the bay to offer a coastal and watershed studies concentration within the environmental science & policy major, including on-the-water experiential learning.

Blazers compete in 20+ sports

Women and men can choose from the usual sports–basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, and more. Though football isn’t on the menu, ice hockey, golf, and swimming are. Hood participates in the Middle Atlantic Conference NCAA Division III. Club and intramural sports are available. There’s an equestrian club, with a stable located nearby, and an esports club as well.

While Hood hosts 600+ events per year and has 50 clubs and organizations, Greek life is not part of the Blazer experience. (Blaze is the thoroughbred horse that’s their mascot.) A chapel hosts nondenominational services, and Frederick has so many churches that it’s known as the city of spires.

Support services ensure student success

The Student Success Center offers in-person and online tutoring free with tuition. The center wants to not only support students, but to teach them how to avoid falling behind. You have access to the Career Center for life. With the recent federal government lay-offs, they’ve seen an influx of government workers coming in to retool their résumés. A Wellness Center on campus functions like urgent care for students.

For financially challenged students, Hood keeps dorms open during school breaks and maintains a well-stocked food pantry. Remember that inclusivity and community are core values.

Hood simplifies the application process

All that’s required is your application and your transcript. Hood is test-optional, but they encourage you to supply letters of recommendation and to schedule an interview before you apply. They will also accept résumés, videos, and art portfolios. Demonstrated interest matters.

Hood recalculates your GPA using your core courses of English, social studies, science, math, and world language. An honors course on your transcript equals a boost of .5 points; AP, IB, and dual enrollment get a full point boost.

Hood makes college affordable

The estimated cost of attendance for 2026-27 is $67,930, which includes tuition ($49,800), a comprehensive fee ($1,100), and room and board ($17,030). However, the average net cost after financial aid is $24,032, demonstrating Hood’s commitment to making post-secondary education accessible. Hood encourages families to use the net price calculator on their website to estimate their individual costs.