University of Maryland, College Park

Maryland's flagship research university sits just ten miles from Washington, DC — a location that transforms the college experience into a front-row seat to federal policy, cutting-edge science agencies, and the capital's thriving tech corridor. UMD is a powerhouse in computer science, cybersecurity, aerospace, and quantum computing, and is one of the few public universities in America ranked in both the top 50 nationally and the top 200 globally. For ambitious international students who want the rigour of a research-intensive AAU institution alongside the energy of a Big Ten campus, Maryland offers a compelling combination of academic depth and real-world proximity.

With 41,000 students, strong graduate and research culture, and unmatched access to federal agencies including NASA, NIH, NSA, and NIST, UMD positions students for careers that bridge academia, government, and industry — a combination rarely found at a single campus.

Real, freely-licensed photographs of the campus (via Wikimedia Commons).

The University of Maryland is not just a large public university — it is a member of the Association of American Universities, a consortium of the 71 leading research universities in North America, and one of the few flagship publics that can genuinely claim proximity to both Silicon Valley-level innovation and the organs of the federal government.

With an acceptance rate of 44%, UMD is moderately selective — more competitive than most regional universities but accessible to strong students who present themselves compellingly. For international students, the standards are comparable to domestic applicants, though the smaller international cohort means competition within that pool can be intense for the most popular programmes.

Programme-specific selectivity varies significantly: Computer Science, Engineering, and Business are substantially more competitive than the university-wide average. Apply to your intended major with a realistic sense of that programme's own profile.

Founded in 1856 as the Maryland Agricultural College, the University of Maryland has grown into the state's flagship research institution and a member of both the Big Ten Conference and the Association of American Universities. The suburban College Park campus spans more than 1,200 acres and includes major research facilities, a performing arts centre, and one of the largest university libraries on the East Coast.

UMD accepts applications through the Common App and its own ApplyWeb platform. The review is holistic, considering more than 23 factors. Here is what you will need to submit.

UMD's Office of Undergraduate Admissions evaluates each application holistically across more than 23 factors. For international students, understanding the balance between academic credentials, which are the core, and the qualitative dimensions that distinguish the admitted class is key.

Academic strength — particularly grade trajectory, course rigour, and performance in STEM subjects for technical majors — carries the most weight. Maryland looks for students who have taken the most challenging curriculum available to them, whether that is an IB Diploma, A-Levels, AP courses, or the national curriculum of their home country.

UMD offers Early Action (non-binding) and Regular Decision for fall enrollment. International students follow the same deadlines as domestic applicants for fall entry. The November 1 EA deadline is strongly recommended — it provides an earlier decision and positions you well for merit scholarship consideration.

All merit scholarships require submission by November 1 — there is no separate scholarship application. The Banneker/Key Scholarship, President's Scholarship, and other awards are automatically considered for students who apply by the EA deadline.

The University of Maryland's 1,200-acre campus in College Park is a vibrant, self-contained community that sits on the doorstep of the nation's capital. International students arrive to find a campus with everything they need — and a Metro ride to everything else.

On campus, more than 800 student organisations span academic clubs, cultural organisations, Greek life, media outlets, community service groups, and advocacy initiatives. The Student Government Association, a robust journalism school with a working TV and radio station, and one of the most active debate communities on the East Coast all contribute to a culture where students are genuinely engaged.

UMD's location is its greatest career asset. Federal agencies, defence contractors, tech companies, financial firms, international organisations, and policy institutes recruit directly from campus. The Robert H. Smith School of Business, A. James Clark School of Engineering, and the iSchool all run dedicated career centres with strong employer networks.

Computer science and engineering graduates routinely enter software engineering, cybersecurity, and data science roles at firms including Google, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, and the major consulting firms. Finance and business graduates often enter financial services, consulting, or federal financial agencies. The proximity to the NIH and FDA creates a unique pipeline for pre-med, public health, and biomedical engineering students.

The University of Maryland is a research-intensive AAU institution where academic rigour is a baseline expectation, not an aspiration. For international students, understanding what UMD's admissions team looks for — and what academic profile gives you the best chance — is the first step to building a competitive application.

UMD's admissions review is holistic, but academic preparation carries the greatest weight. The admissions office evaluates the difficulty of your curriculum, your performance relative to what was available to you, and your trajectory over time. International students who have completed the IB Diploma, A-Levels, or the most advanced track of their national curriculum are well-positioned — provided the grades match the ambition.

These ranges are drawn from the facts file and represent the middle 50% of admitted students. Applicants outside these ranges are still considered, but those in the upper portion have a significantly stronger statistical profile.

UMD has adopted a test-optional policy through the Fall 2027 application cycle. This means submitting SAT or ACT scores is your choice, and not submitting them will not disadvantage your application.

Strategic advice for international students: if your scores fall within or above the middle-50% range (1370–1520 SAT, 31–34 ACT), submit them — they reinforce your academic profile. If your scores are below the 25th percentile, omitting them and letting your grades, IB results, and essay do the work is a reasonable strategy. Scores will not be used to screen applications when withheld, but they can add a positive data point when strong.

Test-optional does NOT mean English-test-optional. Separate IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo scores are still required for applicants whose native language is not English.

For international students who choose to submit test scores, here is how UMD uses them and what competitive-range scores look like.

UMD is experienced at evaluating international qualifications and has clear credit-granting policies for IB and A-Level students. Understanding these policies helps you plan which courses to prioritise.

While UMD reviews your overall academic record, specific subject preparation matters — especially for undergraduate programmes with limited seats.

All applicants whose native language is not English must submit official English proficiency scores, regardless of the language of instruction at their secondary school. UMD accepts three testing options.

Scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to UMD. The university code for TOEFL is 5814. Exceptions to the English proficiency requirement may be granted for citizens of certain primarily English-speaking countries — confirm with the Office of International Students and Scholars.

Getting into UMD as an international student is a multi-year process. Here is a practical ladder.

As a public flagship, UMD is meaningfully more affordable than private research universities of comparable stature — but international students pay out-of-state tuition and have limited access to institutional need-based aid. Honest planning is essential.

International students should budget carefully. While UMD's tuition is lower than private peers, federal and state grant programmes are unavailable to non-US-resident students. Merit scholarships are the primary pathway to reducing costs, making the November 1 EA deadline strategically important.

All figures below are for international undergraduate students and are drawn from the university's published figures. These are annual estimates; actual costs may vary by programme, housing choice, and personal spending.

These figures are estimates based on the current published cost of attendance. Actual tuition and fees are set annually by the Board of Regents and may increase each year. Budget for a 3–5% annual increase over four years.

UMD's financial aid picture for international students is limited but not zero. Understanding the landscape clearly helps you plan without surprises.

Federal grants (Pell, SEOG), state grants, and most institutional grants require US citizenship or eligible immigration status. As a result, the majority of international undergraduate students are ineligible for need-based aid from the university's central financial aid office. The primary pathways to reducing cost are merit scholarships (awarded automatically to strong applicants who apply by November 1) and home-country government scholarships.

UMD's merit scholarships are automatically considered for applicants who submit a complete application by November 1. No separate scholarship application is required.

Without need-based aid, most international students face the full sticker cost of roughly $62,000 per year. Here is a realistic picture of what that means and how to think about it.

Compared to private research universities of similar standing — where international tuition can exceed $80,000 per year — UMD represents meaningful savings, particularly for students who earn merit scholarships. A President's Scholarship at the top end ($20,000/year) brings the net annual cost to approximately $42,000, which remains competitive with many private US university offers before aid.

Four-year total cost planning matters. Budget for annual tuition increases (typically 3–5%), and note that while on-campus housing costs are included in the cost-of-attendance estimate, off-campus living in the DC metro area can be significantly more expensive than the published figure suggests.

The University of Maryland applies through the Common App or ApplyWeb. Unlike many similarly-ranked US universities, UMD does not require a supplemental essay for most programmes — making the Common App personal statement your only major written submission. This single essay carries significant weight: use it wisely.

For international students, the essay is a rare opportunity to give admissions readers something they cannot see in your transcript: your voice, your values, your intellectual character, and your ability to write in English with nuance and clarity. Given that UMD reviews more than 23 factors holistically, a memorable personal essay can be the difference between a strong file that tips positive and one that gets deferred.

UMD accepts the Common App and its own ApplyWeb platform. Most international students use the Common App for convenience and familiarity.

Choose ONE of the seven prompts below. All are equally valid — the best prompt is the one that allows you to write the most honest, specific, and compelling essay about yourself.

The Common App personal essay is shared across all your US applications — but the way you approach it should serve every school on your list, including UMD.

UMD is a research university with a strong identity in STEM, government, and public policy — but its essay prompts are open-ended and not major-specific. Write an essay that reveals who you are as a thinker and person, not merely what you plan to study. Admissions officers at UMD read thousands of essays from well-qualified students; the ones that stand out are honest, specific, and surprising.

While UMD has no supplemental essay for most applicants, there are additional elements of the Common App that smart applicants use strategically.

The most common mistake international applicants make is choosing a topic that seems impressive rather than one that is genuinely theirs.