How to get into Coppin State University
How to get into Coppin State: a public urban HBCU in Baltimore with strong nursing and education tracks
45.8%
Acceptance rate
$7,100
In-state cost
$14,024
Out-of-state cost
What makes Coppin State University admissions different
Coppin State is a public historically Black university in Baltimore, MD, part of the University System of Maryland. The undergraduate population (~1,800) is small for a public university and the campus serves a high proportion of Maryland residents and first-generation students. Strong programs include Nursing, Education, Criminal Justice, and the Honors College. The admit rate of ~46% reflects an academic floor; applicants above the floor are typically admitted. Maryland residents pay among the lowest tuition in the state system, and Pell-eligible applicants often pay nothing out of pocket after federal and state aid stack.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply through Coppin's institutional online application. Submit transcripts, recommendation, and the application fee (waivers available).
- 2.
Maryland residents should apply by the priority deadline (typically February for fall) to be considered for the Maryland Higher Education Commission state aid programs (Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Awards).
- 3.
File the FAFSA by Maryland's state deadline (typically March 1) to be considered for state aid in addition to federal and Coppin institutional aid.
- 4.
If Nursing is the goal, plan to apply to the BSN program through a secondary process after admission to the university — the Helene Fuld School of Nursing admits separately and is more competitive than the headline rate.
- 5.
If you're a strong student, apply to the Coppin Honors College on the application — Honors students receive scholarship consideration, smaller seminars, and study-abroad opportunities.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Assuming Nursing is automatic. The Helene Fuld School of Nursing requires a separate, more selective application; general Coppin admission doesn't carry into Nursing.
- ✕
Missing Maryland's March 1 FAFSA deadline. State aid eligibility is time-limited — late filing forecloses Maryland-specific grants that meaningfully reduce cost.
- ✕
Skipping the Honors College box on the application. Coppin Honors offers scholarship consideration that's effectively unavailable to non-Honors admits with similar profiles.
The specifics for Coppin State University
Application deadlines
- Priority application2026-02-15
- FAFSA — Maryland state aid2026-03-01Maryland Higher Education Commission state aid requires FAFSA by March 1.
What makes this admissions process distinctive
Helene Fuld School of Nursing — separate competitive admit
The Helene Fuld School of Nursing is Coppin's flagship pre-professional program and admits separately from general university admission with a higher academic bar.
University System of Maryland membership
Coppin is part of the USM system and Maryland residents pay among the lowest in-state tuition rates within the system, with stackable Maryland state aid through MHEC.
What graduates actually do
Coppin State, an HBCU in West Baltimore, has been a critical producer of Black teachers, nurses, and social workers for the Baltimore-DC region for over a century. The Helene Fuld School of Nursing and the College of Health Professions feed Johns Hopkins Hospital, the University of Maryland Medical System, and Baltimore City Schools. The criminal-justice program is highly regarded for producing Black law enforcement and corrections leaders.
Notable alumni
- Larry Gibson — Civil rights attorney
- Joyce J. Scott — MacArthur Fellow artist
- Catherine Pugh — Former mayor of Baltimore
Transfer pathway
Coppin State honors Maryland's ARTSYS articulation system and accepts transfer applicants with at least 12 college credits and a 2.0 GPA. Baltimore City Community College sends the largest transfer cohort under a formal articulation agreement, with seamless transfer for AA-degree completers. Anne Arundel CC and the Community College of Baltimore County also feed transfer students.
Articulation partners
Baltimore City Community College · Community College of Baltimore County · Anne Arundel Community College
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App (supplements re-verified this pass). Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
Coppin admits applicants who hit the published academic floor (~2.5 GPA with college-prep coursework). Maryland residents benefit from the lowest cost-of-attendance in the USM system and stackable state aid. Nursing-track applicants should plan for the secondary admit; non-Nursing applicants with median stats are likely admits.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.