How to get into University of Maryland-Baltimore County
How to get into UMBC: a public research university with one of the country's strongest pipelines to STEM PhDs and the Meyerhoff Scholars
72.4%
Acceptance rate
$13,256
In-state cost
$31,275
Out-of-state cost
What makes University of Maryland-Baltimore County admissions different
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is a public research university — roughly 10,700 undergrads on a suburban campus in Catonsville, Maryland. UMBC admits around 72% of applicants. The school has built a national reputation for STEM undergraduate research and is home to the Meyerhoff Scholars Program — one of the most successful pipelines in the United States for producing African American students who go on to earn PhDs in STEM fields. For Maryland residents, UMBC offers in-state tuition for a research-university experience.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply through the Common App by UMBC's Early Action (typically November 1) or Regular Decision deadlines. EA is non-binding and gives the earliest decision plus best consideration for honors and scholarship programs.
- 2.
Maryland residents: confirm in-state tuition eligibility.
- 3.
Apply to the Meyerhoff Scholars Program through its separate application if you have a strong STEM profile and an interest in pursuing a PhD or MD-PhD in the sciences. Meyerhoff is open to applicants of all races (after a 2015 program change) committed to the program's mission of increasing diversity in STEM PhD pipelines. The program offers a full scholarship, intensive STEM cohort experience, and one of the best PhD-placement records of any undergraduate program in the country.
- 4.
Pick the right college. The College of Engineering and Information Technology, the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and the Erickson School of Aging Studies each have their own program-specific framing.
- 5.
Apply to the Honors College through its separate process. Honors students get an honors curriculum, scholarship opportunities, and dedicated advising.
- 6.
Apply for the named merit scholarships (Linehan, Sondheim Public Affairs, Humanities, Center for Women in Technology, and others). UMBC has an unusually deep pipeline of named scholarship programs tied to specific academic communities.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Missing the Meyerhoff application when the profile fits. Meyerhoff has its own application, earlier deadline, and finalist weekend — it's one of the best undergraduate STEM programs in the country and worth applying to seriously.
- ✕
Skipping the named scholarship applications (Sondheim, Linehan, CWIT, Humanities) — these are tied to specific cohort programs that change the UMBC experience substantially.
- ✕
Treating UMBC as just a generic Maryland public. The STEM PhD pipeline and the named scholarship programs are genuinely distinctive.
- ✕
Missing EA and the priority pool for honors and scholarship consideration.
The specifics for University of Maryland-Baltimore County
What makes this admissions process distinctive
One of the most successful pipelines in the country for producing students (originally focused on Black students; expanded after 2015 to applicants of all races committed to the program's diversity-in-STEM mission) who go on to earn PhDs or MD-PhDs in STEM fields. Full scholarship, intensive cohort experience, separate application.
Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program
A merit-scholarship cohort focused on public policy, with funded internships in Baltimore and Washington, DC and a structured leadership curriculum.
Center for Women in Technology (CWIT) Scholars
A merit-scholarship cohort supporting women and gender-diverse students in computing, engineering, and IT, with full or partial scholarships and dedicated programming.
Notable scholarships at University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Linehan Artist Scholars Program
A merit-scholarship cohort for students with serious commitment to the arts (visual arts, music, theater, dance, creative writing) regardless of intended major.
What graduates actually do
UMBC has built a national reputation under former president Freeman Hrabowski for producing minority STEM graduates, particularly Black scientists and physicians, via the Meyerhoff Scholars Program. Graduates feed federal agencies (NSA, NIH, NASA Goddard — all nearby), Johns Hopkins, biotech, and PhD programs at exceptional rates. UMBC is among the top producers of Black undergraduates who go on to earn STEM PhDs.
Notable alumni
- Kafui Dzirasa — Neuroscience/psychiatry (Duke faculty)
- Maximilian Schwarzmuller — Tech
- Wes Moore — Politics (Maryland Governor — briefly attended UMBC)
Transfer pathway
UMBC accepts transfers via the Maryland Transfer Advantage Program, which articulates with all Maryland community colleges including the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) — UMBC's primary feeder — Howard Community College, Anne Arundel Community College, and Montgomery College. AA graduates with a 2.5+ GPA are guaranteed admission to the USM system though specific UMBC admission varies by major.
Articulation partners
Community College of Baltimore County · Howard Community College · Anne Arundel Community College · Montgomery College
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App. Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
If you're a Maryland resident with a B+ transcript and reasonable rigor, UMBC is a likely admit and a strong in-state value. For high-achieving STEM applicants in or out of state with PhD aspirations, the Meyerhoff Scholars Program is one of the most consequential undergraduate scholarship programs in the country — worth applying for if eligible. The Honors College and named scholarship programs are the levers that move UMBC from 'fine flagship-tier public' to 'exceptional research-university launchpad.'
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.