Hood College Expands Hood Advantage Program to Make College Affordable for More Students

Hood College has expanded its Hood Advantage Program, broadening access to a Hood education for students from a wider range of backgrounds and income levels.

Under the expanded program, students from outside of Maryland may now qualify beginning with the fall 2027 incoming class. Additionally, all eligible students from households earning $125,000 or less will pay no more in tuition and fees than the equivalent of the University of Maryland, College Park’s tuition and fees. The updated income threshold helps make a private college education more attainable for families who may otherwise find it financially out of reach.

Originally launched in 2023, the Hood Advantage Program was designed to make a Hood College education more accessible by covering tuition in full (after federal grants and scholarships) for qualifying students from Maryland households with income of $50,000 or less.

All eligible first-year students who both apply to Hood for fall 2027 and submit a FAFSA for the 2027-28 academic year will automatically be considered for the Hood Advantage Program.

“Affordability is a big concern for families looking at colleges today,” said Colby McCarthy, vice president for enrollment management at Hood College. “We want students to be able to choose Hood College because of our outstanding academic programs and career preparation, our great location and our amazing community.”

“We do not want our cost to be a hurdle,” McCarthy continued. “The expansion of the Hood Advantage Program puts into policy what we have been practicing here at Hood for years. We have always strived to make a quality education that focuses on students’ futures as affordable as possible.”

The expansion reflects Hood College’s ongoing commitment to affordability and access, ensuring that more students can pursue a high-quality education while managing the cost of earning a degree. In total, Hood awards more than $40 million annually to assist students with the cost of a degree, ranking no. 32 in the U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Value” category.

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