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About UMD

Founded in 1856 as the Maryland Agricultural College, the University of Maryland (UMD) is the state’s flagship university and one of the original land-grant institutions in America.

As a member of the Association of American Universities, the Big Ten Conference, the Coalition for College and the Common App, UMD is consistently recognized as one of the preeminent public research universities in the United States. Our students are fearless innovators, entrepreneurs, creators and doers. Our faculty includes Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, members of the national academies and scores of Fulbright scholars, making UMD a global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Location: College Park, Maryland
Nearest major city: Washington, D.C., 10 miles/16 kilometers from campus
Colleges: 12 (enrolling undergraduates)
Majors: 100+
Student-to-teacher ratio: 18:1
Campus clubs and organizations: 800+
NCAA Division I teams: 20
Alumni: 405,000
Undergraduate students: 30,000+
75% Maryland residents
25% non-Maryland residents
47% students of color
114 countries and 49 states represented

Every community owes its existence and strength to the generations before them, around the world, who contributed their hopes, dreams, and energy into making the history that led to this moment.

Truth and acknowledgement are critical in building mutual respect and connections across all barriers of heritage and difference.

So, we acknowledge the truth that is often buried: We are on the ancestral lands of the Piscataway People, who are the ancestral stewards of this sacred land. It is their historical responsibility to advocate for the four-legged, the winged, those that crawl and those that swim. They remind us that clean air and pristine waterways are essential to all life.

This Land Acknowledgement is a vocal reminder for each of us as two-leggeds to ensure our physical environment is in better condition than what we inherited, for the health and prosperity of future generations.

For the Fall 2022 freshman class, we received just over 56,000 applications for a class of 4,500. Due to UMD's test-optional policy, applicants were able to indicate whether they would submit standardized test scores for consideration in their application review. Admitted freshmen earned primarily As and Bs in a rigorous curriculum. 

For the Fall 2022 transfer class, we received more than 4,800 applications for a class of 1,750. Our most successful transfer students have a B average or better and have completed an English composition course that satisfies the university’s fundamental studies academic writing requirement and a college-level math course that satisfies the university’s fundamental studies math requirement.

Notable Alumni

Terps are Terps for life. They graduate from UMD more committed than ever to changing the world, whether by discovering technologies we rely on every day, tackling policy issues in our government, launching creative businesses and more. Take a look at who's #AlwaysATerp

  • Robert Basham ’70, co-founder, Outback Steakhouse
     
  • Gail Berman ’78, former president, Paramount Pictures, Fox Entertainment
     
  • Sergey Brin ’93, co-founder, Google
     
  • Robert Briskman ’61, co-founder, Sirius XM
     
  • Ethan Brown ’97, founder and CEO, Beyond Meat
     
  • Connie Chung ’69, journalist, Emmy winner
     
  • Larry David ’70, actor and writer, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm
  • Dominique Dawes ’02, medalist and three-time Olympian
     
  • Jim Henson ’60, creator, The Muppets
     
  • Brendan Iribe ’97, co-founder, Oculus
     
  • Gayle King ’76, co-anchor, CBS Morning Show
     
  • Kevin Plank ’97, founder & CEO, Under Armour
     
  • Dianne Wiest ’69, two-time Academy Award winner

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Explore

Terps love a challenge. A problem that needs a solution. A barrier that needs breaking down. You are smart, scrappy and determined. You value diversity, innovation, entrepreneurship and imagination. Ready to start your fearless journey?

Be A Terp

Visit

You can only learn so much about a school from a brochure. Even if we tell you how beautiful our campus is, or how fantastic our students and faculty are, you will not know for yourself until you experience it for yourself!

Come try on our campus for size! Stop by one of our top-notch athletic facilities. Have a scoop of homemade ice cream at the Dairy. Rub the nose of one of our beloved Testudo statues for good luck. Get all your questions answered. It won't be hard to picture yourself at home here for the next four years. 

Please visit our updates page for information regarding visit opportunity changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Virtual Visit

Unable to make it to campus? Explore our beautiful campus from anywhere in the world!

Virtual Tour

 

Apply

You've done your research and explored your options, and you know that UMD is the perfect place for you. Now it's time to apply. 

COMMON APP >>   StandOut Admissions Network >>

Freshman applicants can apply using either the Common App or StandOut Admissions Network platforms. At this time, transfer applicants can only apply using StandOut Admissions Network.

Finance

Consistently ranked as one of the best values in public higher education, you can rest assured that you will receive an affordable world-class education.

College is a major investment for you and your family. The university is here to help. We offer an array of financial aid programs—including scholarships, grants, loans and student employment—as part of our commitment to making an excellent education affordable.

ESTIMATED COST OF ATTENDANCE:

State of Maryland Residents   Non-Maryland Residents

The University of Maryland has launched a new investment in need-based financial aid, the Terrapin Commitment program, which will provide up to $20 million annually for students from the state of Maryland.

The goal of the Terrapin Commitment program is to reduce the gap between a student’s total financial aid package and the cost of an education. The program will begin in January 2023 and ensures that tuition and fees are fully covered for Pell eligible, in-state students, who are enrolled full time and have unmet financial need. More details can be found on the Office of Student Financial Aid's website.

Enroll

Congratulations on your admission to the University of Maryland! We are excited to welcome you into our world of fearless ideas.

You’ve received your admission letter, checked out your major and started celebrating with family and friends. To make enrollment official, check out information for newly admitted students to get everything you need to start your academic career at UMD. 

ENROLL (Freshman)    ENROLL (Transfer)