University of Maryland-College Park: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
College Park, Maryland · Public · Selective · CDS 2024-2025
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University of Maryland-College Park is a public university in College Park, Maryland that admits about 45% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $15,678 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Computer Science, Information Science/Studies and Biology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 89% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 10.7 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
University of Maryland-College Park is a public institution located in College Park, Maryland with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Maryland-College Park admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 45%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1470 and an ACT composite around 32. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $15,678 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about University of Maryland-College Park right now
The University of Maryland, College Park, founded in 1856, is the flagship of the University System of Maryland and the largest university in the state, with roughly 41,000 students just outside Washington, D.C. Maryland is a public land-grant research university and a member of the Big Ten and the Association of American Universities, with particular strength in engineering, computer science, business, and public policy. The A. James Clark School of Engineering and the Robert H. Smith School of Business both rank among the top public programs nationally, and the university's proximity to federal agencies and NASA Goddard creates internship and research pipelines that few peers can match. Parents should know that UMD remains test-optional for first-year applicants and emphasizes a holistic review that weighs rigor of curriculum and essays heavily. Maryland's Banneker/Key Scholarship is its top merit award, fully funding tuition and fees for a small number of admitted students. The university has also expanded its Maryland Promise Scholarship, which guarantees aid covering tuition and fees for qualifying in-state students from families under a published income cap. Recent campus news that matters for families includes major investments in quantum computing through the Capital of Quantum initiative announced in 2024 with state and industry partners, plus continued growth of the Honors College Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students living-learning program, a draw for tech-oriented applicants.
What GPA does my child need for University of Maryland-College Park?
91% of enrolled students at University of Maryland-College Park had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.44, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What does University of Maryland-College Park weight in admissions?
University of Maryland-College Park reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
SAT and ACT scores University of Maryland-College Park typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 710–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 690. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 32–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | 1410 |
| 50th percentile | 1470 |
| 75th percentile | 1520 |
| % submitting SAT | 37% |
| 25th percentile | 32 |
| 50th percentile | 33 |
| 75th percentile | 35 |
| % submitting ACT | 6% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 73.2% |
| Top 25% of class | 87.7% |
| Top 50% of class | 98.8% |
| % submitting class rank | 24.8% |
How much does University of Maryland-College Park actually cost?
Published tuition is $11,809 for in-state students and $41,186 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $15,958 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $15,678 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 19% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $10,087 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $39,464 |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $15,678 |
| Application fee | $75 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Maryland-College Park
| Regular deadline | 1/20 |
| Notification date | 4/1 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from University of Maryland-College Park?
These predict outcomes at University of Maryland-College Park better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at University of Maryland-College Park
The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Maryland-College Park, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Computer Science, Information Science/Studies and Biology, General. Across all programs, University of Maryland-College Park confers roughly 4,170 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Information Science/Studies program report a median income of about $113,785 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 954 | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 623 | $113,785 |
| Biology, General | 554 | $72,024 |
| Public Health | 458 | $67,437 |
| Psychology, General | 408 | $63,220 |
| Economics | 400 | $86,897 |
| Criminology | 397 | $69,545 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 376 | $116,598 |
Is University of Maryland-College Park safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Maryland-College Park disclosed 329 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 10.7 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 11 violent offenses and 19 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at University of Maryland-College Park?
About 39% of undergraduates at University of Maryland-College Park live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 9% of men join a fraternity and 12% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
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Next steps for University of Maryland-College Park
Common questions parents ask about University of Maryland-College Park
What GPA do I need for University of Maryland-College Park?
91% of enrolled students at University of Maryland-College Park had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.44, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Maryland-College Park typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 710–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 690. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 32–35.
How much does University of Maryland-College Park actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Maryland-College Park after grants and scholarships is $15,678 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $11,809 and $41,186 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is University of Maryland-College Park realistic for my child?
University of Maryland-College Park admits 45% of applicants, so 710–780 SAT Math is target range and below 710 is a reach. Then check the $15,678 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Maryland-College Park?
University of Maryland-College Park accepts about 45% of applicants out of roughly 60,042 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is University of Maryland-College Park test-optional?
Yes. University of Maryland-College Park is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at University of Maryland-College Park?
About 89% of students at University of Maryland-College Park graduate within six years, and 77% finish in four years. 96% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does University of Maryland-College Park look for in applicants?
University of Maryland-College Park rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is University of Maryland-College Park a public or private school, and where is it located?
University of Maryland-College Park is a public institution located in College Park, Maryland.
What are the most popular majors at University of Maryland-College Park?
The largest undergraduate majors at University of Maryland-College Park by annual graduates are Computer Science, Information Science/Studies and Biology, General. The school awards about 4,170 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is University of Maryland-College Park safe? What is its campus crime rate?
University of Maryland-College Park reported 329 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 10.7 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at University of Maryland-College Park?
At University of Maryland-College Park, 39% of undergraduates live on campus, 9% of men are in fraternities, 12% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Maryland-College Park, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers