University of Maryland, College Park
Source: u_maryland.md
University of Maryland, College Park
Admissions (Class of 2029 / Fall 2025)
- Total applicants: ~60,056
- Overall acceptance rate: 45%
- Early round: EA — ~61% vs ~38% RD
- Class size: ~5,821
- Yield: 23%
Academics
- SAT middle 50%: 1400-1530
- ACT middle 50%: 32-35
- Avg unweighted GPA: 3.95+
- Top 10% of HS class: 73%
- Testing policy: Test-optional (considered if submitted)
Demographics
- Women: 48%, Asian: 17%, Black: 11%, Hispanic: 9%, White: 45%, International: 10%
Financial Aid / Net Cost
| Income Bracket |
Net Price |
| $0-$30,000 |
$8,054 |
| $30,001-$48,000 |
$12,128 |
| $48,001-$75,000 |
$18,418 |
| $75,001-$110,000 |
$22,710 |
| Over $110,000 |
$25,151 |
Athletics
~500 varsity athletes (~1.6% of undergrads). NCAA Division I, Big Ten Conference. 20 varsity sports.
Notable
Strong flagship with highly competitive in-state admissions; in-state tuition ~$11,000 vs ~$39,000 OOS. Top engineering and computer science programs. Located near Washington, D.C., providing internship/career advantages. No separate honors college but offers university honors and departmental honors programs.
Admissions Strategy
- EA advantage is substantial: ~61% EA acceptance rate vs ~38% RD. Forum consensus strongly recommends applying EA.
- Modest in-state preference: In-state acceptance rate ~50% vs OOS ~42% — a narrower gap than most peer flagships. UMD is relatively OOS-friendly for a state school.
- Program-level variation: CS and engineering are significantly more competitive than the university overall. Direct admission to CS is highly sought after.
- DC proximity is a differentiator: Students and forums frequently cite the D.C. location as a major advantage for internships, government/policy careers, and networking.
Campus Culture & Fit
- Students describe a balanced experience between academics and social life, with a "refreshing" mix of rigor and Big Ten spirit.
- Diverse student body is frequently praised — 45% White, 17% Asian, 11% Black, 9% Hispanic creates a genuinely multicultural environment.
- Big Ten athletics (especially basketball and football) drive school spirit, particularly since the move from the ACC.
- Campus is suburban but well-connected to D.C. via Metro, giving it an urban feel despite the College Park setting.
Financial Aid Reputation
- In-state tuition (~$11K) is very competitive; OOS tuition (~$39K) is standard for a flagship.
- Merit scholarships exist for OOS students but are competitive. No university-wide honors college, though departmental honors programs are available.
- Students report that UMD's financial aid for middle-income families is less generous than some peer flagships.
Simulation-Relevant Takeaways
- EA vs RD round matters more than residency at UMD — model a meaningful EA boost.
- In-state/OOS gap (~50% vs ~42%) is smaller than peer publics, making UMD relatively OOS-accessible.
- Yield (23%) is moderate, reflecting competition from nearby schools (UVA, Penn State, private D.C. options).
Sources
- UMD Common Data Set 2024-2025 (via GradGPT)
- College Factual net price and diversity data
- UMD IRPA student profile
- Ivy Coach UMD acceptance rate analysis
- Niche.com UMD student reviews
- College Transitions: How to Get Into UMD