44.8%
Acceptance Rate
$11,809
Avg Cost (In-State)
$41,186
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
88.6%
Graduation Rate
30,760
Total Enrollment
What they weigh most
Source: Common Data Set
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
January 20
Early Deadline
November 1 (Early Action)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
1
Letters of Rec
1
Application Fee
$75
Interview
Not required
Essays: One required essay from the Common App or Coalition App prompts, typically 650 words maximum
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$67,785
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$82,860
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
89%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science. | $99,756 | $137,931 | 506 |
| Information Science/Studies. | $70,344 | $109,092 | 429 |
| Economics. | $58,650 | $83,880 | 357 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | $43,696 | $74,402 | 279 |
| Biology, General. | $30,325 | $64,867 | 274 |
| Public Health. | $38,273 | $72,328 | 272 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | $76,485 | $100,003 | 250 |
| Criminology. | $43,698 | $67,258 | 242 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Calculate Your Cost at University of Maryland-College Park
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Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
University of Maryland MC2 SFS Program
Full tuition + $25,000-$37,000/yr stipend
federalUMD cybersecurity students through MC2; US citizens; federal service commitment.
Deadline: February
Learn more ↗UMD Banneker/Key Scholarship
Full ride (Banneker) or partial (Key)
universityTop UMD applicants; combines academic + leadership + diversity considerations. Banneker is full ride.
Deadline: November 1
Learn more ↗Senator John A. Cade Funding Formula Scholarship
Varies (community college base)
stateMD residents at MD community colleges; funding distributed by formula to colleges.
Deadline: Apply through college
Learn more ↗Maryland 2+2 Transfer Scholarship
Up to $2,000/year
stateMD CC grads transferring to a 4-year MD institution with 3.0+ GPA.
Deadline: MSFAA by March 1
Learn more ↗MD Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship
Up to full tuition + fees
stateMD veterans + spouses/children of fallen MD service members, public safety officers.
Deadline: Through MHEC
Learn more ↗Loyola Maryland Presidential Scholarship
Full tuition
universityTop LM incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: December 15
Learn more ↗Johns Hopkins Hopkins Aid (No-Loan for families under $80k)
Loans replaced with grants for low/moderate income; need met for all
universityAdmitted JHU students with demonstrated need.
Deadline: CSS Profile + FAFSA
Learn more ↗UMD President's Scholarship
$2,500-$10,000/year
universityTop UMD incoming freshmen via automatic merit grid.
Deadline: November 1
Learn more ↗UMD Stamp Scholarship
Full cost of attendance + summer enrichment
universityTop ~5 UMD freshmen via competitive Stamps process.
Deadline: November 1
Learn more ↗Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 44.8% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
44.79%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
19.4%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
22.4%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
24.3%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
96.2%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
88.6%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
For transfer students
Transferring in to University of Maryland-College Park.
53%
Transfer admit rate
3.0
Min transfer GPA
MD ARTSYS
State articulation
ARTSYS database pre-evaluates MD community college courses. Maryland Transfer Advantage Program (MTAP) is a formal 2+2 with MD CCs.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI
45.2% acceptance
Both admit around 45% of applicants, with 37k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
University of Maryland
College Park, MD
44% acceptance
Both admit around 44% of applicants, with 41k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Auburn University
Auburn, AL
45.9% acceptance
Both admit around 46% of applicants, with 27k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
43.2% acceptance
Similar selectivity (43% vs 45%) but out-of-state cost runs $17k — meaningfully less than $41k.
Florida A&M University
Tallahassee, FL
38% acceptance
Similar selectivity (38% vs 45%) but out-of-state cost runs $18k — meaningfully less than $41k.
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA
51.6% acceptance
Similar selectivity (52% vs 45%) but out-of-state cost runs $18k — meaningfully less than $41k.
Reaches above this college
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
24.2% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but more selective (24% vs 45%) — a stretch target if University of Maryland-College Park is already on your list.
University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville, VA
16.8% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but more selective (17% vs 45%) — a stretch target if University of Maryland-College Park is already on your list.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
16.8% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but more selective (17% vs 45%) — a stretch target if University of Maryland-College Park is already on your list.
Safer alternatives
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA
54.8% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (55% vs 45%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX
57% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (57% vs 45%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
57% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (57% vs 45%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Transfer pathways
Routes in from a community college.
From MD community colleges
articulation onlyMaryland has a robust transfer pipeline through the Maryland Transfer Advantage Program (MTAP) with Montgomery College, Prince George's Community College, and Anne Arundel CC; students can take UMD courses while enrolled at the CC. The university also honors the ARTSYS articulati…
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