College Profiles/ University of Maryland, College Park
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
University of Maryland, College Park Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
College Park, MD · 31,875 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to University of Maryland, College Park for fall 2027, verified against the school’s own Common Data Set, cost of attendance and admissions pages, with ConnectPrep’s strategic read.
By Jeremy Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep
Updated October 11, 2026 · Data verified against official sources
✓ Every figure cited
Quick answer
University of Maryland, College Park admitted 45.0% of 59,499 first-year applicants.[1] The 2026-27 cost of attendance is $32,408 for in-state students and $62,374 out of state.[2] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Early Action Nov 1, Regular Decision Jan 20.[3]
45.0%
Overall admit rate[1]
32 to 35
Middle 50% ACT[4]
$62,374
Out-of-state cost, 2026-27[2]
88.3%
Six-year graduation rate[5]
University of Maryland, College Park at a Glance
- Location
- College Park, MD
- Type
- Public
- Student to faculty ratio
- 17:1[4]
- Endowment
- $1.2 billion (federal data)[4]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Optional (through fall 2027 cycle)[3]
- Application
- Common App, UMD ApplyWeb[3]
- First-year retention
- 96.6%[5]
The ConnectPrep Take on University of Maryland, College Park
The ConnectPrep take
Maryland weighs more than 23 factors flexibly, judging academic merit, achievements and potential in light of the opportunities and challenges each student has faced. The bigger question is the major. A preferred major does not affect admission to the university, but Limited Enrollment Programs, including Business, Computer Science, Engineering and Psychology, are reviewed separately, and students not admitted land in Letters and Sciences. Maryland admitted 45.0% of 59,499 applicants. Early Action on Nov 1 is nonbinding; Regular Decision closes Jan 20. Testing is optional through the fall 2027 cycle, and federal data puts the math middle 50% at 710 to 780, so submit at 745 or higher. The biggest mistake is missing Nov 1, because Honors College invitations and Banneker/Key, President's and Dean's Scholarship review depend on Early Action.
What to do this fall
- Apply Early Action by Nov 1 for automatic Honors College and merit scholarship consideration.
- LEP applicants, such as Computer Science, should show matching coursework; students not admitted must complete gateway requirements later.
- Submit a math section of 745 or higher, and aim for 780.
- In-state families should file the FAFSA by Mar 1 for the Terrapin Commitment.
Applying to University of Maryland, College Park? Get a free strategy session. We map your student’s round, testing plan, essays and every scholarship deadline for this school.
Book a Free Consultation
University of Maryland, College Park Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
59,499 |
26,750 |
45.0% |
- Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 23.1%.[1]
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing[4] |
690 to 750 |
| SAT Math[4] |
710 to 780 |
| ACT composite[4] |
32 to 35 |
Test score ranges on this page come from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, which reports an earlier entering class than the school’s newest Common Data Set.[4]
ConnectPrep score target
Aim for 750 in Reading and Writing and 780 in Math, the 75th percentile for each section here, or 35 on the ACT. A higher score is always better, and the test can be retaken. Not there yet? Take a free practice test and we will build the plan to close the gap.
What University of Maryland, College Park looks for
In its own words: UMD uses holistic review: a professional committee weighs academic merit, achievements, and potential in light of the opportunities and challenges each student has faced, across more than 23 factors applied flexibly and not in order of importance.[6]
University of Maryland, College Park Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Early Action |
Nov 1 |
by Feb 1 |
| Regular Decision |
Jan 20 |
by Apr 1 |
Insider deadlines families miss
These scholarship, honors, program, interview and aid deadlines come from University of Maryland, College Park’s own pages. Anything tagged Before RD is due before the Regular Decision deadline.
| Program or rule |
Deadline |
What to know |
Banneker/Key, President's and Dean's Scholarships
Before RD |
Nov 1 (EA) |
Complete application and materials by the Nov 1 Early Action deadline for automatic merit review; no separate application. Banneker/Key candidates come from Honors College admits, with semifinalist interviews late Feb to early Mar.[7] |
Honors College, College Park Scholars and living-learning programs
Before RD |
Nov 1 (EA) |
Applicants who apply by Nov 1 Early Action are automatically considered for invitation; no separate application.[8] |
See how University of Maryland, College Park compares with other colleges in the Mid-Atlantic deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
University of Maryland, College Park Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance, in-state (2025-2026)[2] |
$32,408 |
| Cost of attendance, out-of-state (2025-2026)[2] |
$62,374 |
on campus, Maryland resident; tuition and fees $12,008 (includes mandatory fees); nonresident tuition and fees $41,974, total $62,374. Business, engineering and computer science add differential tuition not included.[2]
- Terrapin Commitment: in-state degree-seeking undergraduates who are Pell-eligible, or have Total Family Income of $75,000 or less with unmet need, receive a grant covering standard in-state tuition and mandatory fees ($12,290 for 2025-26) after other aid; FAFSA by March 1, full-time enrollment.[9]
What families actually pay: net price by income
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships for first-year in-state students receiving aid, by family income. It comes from federal data, which runs a year or two behind the school’s current cost figures.[4]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$2,962 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$6,051 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$10,273 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$18,250 |
| Over $110,000 |
$26,691 |
| All aided students |
$15,678 |
Academics and Majors at University of Maryland, College Park
Signature programs
Honors College living-learning programs
Eight honors living-learning programs including Gemstone, Integrated Life Sciences, Honors Humanities, Design Cultures and Creativity, ACES (cybersecurity), Honors Global Challenges and Solutions, Interdisciplinary Business Honors, and University Honors.[10]
Gemstone
Honors College program in which students complete a multi-year team research project, one of eight Honors living-learning programs.[10]
Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students (ACES)
Honors living-learning program focused on cybersecurity, drawing on UMD's location near federal agencies.[10]
Terrapin Commitment
Covers in-state tuition and fees for Pell-eligible Marylanders and families with income of $75,000 or less.[9]
Choosing a major and getting in
Applicants list a preferred major, which does not affect admissibility to the university. Limited Enrollment Programs (Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Engineering, Immersive Media Design, Neuroscience, Psychology) review LEP applicants separately; students not admitted to the LEP are placed in Letters and Sciences and must complete gateway requirements to apply later. Non-LEP majors are direct admit. Current students switching into an LEP must apply.[11]
Special admission paths
- Honors College invitation (8 living-learning programs).
- Limited Enrollment Program direct admission at entry.
- Letters and Sciences pathway for students not admitted to an LEP.
- Early Action (Nov 1).
University of Maryland, College Park Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[5] |
96.6% |
| Graduated within four years[5] |
79.6% |
| Graduated within six years[5] |
88.3% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[4] |
$82,860 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[4] |
$19,000 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[4] |
19% |
Make University of Maryland, College Park a realistic goal
ConnectPrep builds the full plan: the right round, a score target and test schedule, essays that sound like your student, and every scholarship and program deadline on one calendar. Start with a free consultation or a free practice test.
Compare Similar Colleges
University of Maryland, College Park FAQs
What is the University of Maryland, College Park acceptance rate?
University of Maryland, College Park admitted 45.0% of first-year applicants (26,750 of 59,499).
When are the University of Maryland, College Park application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Early Action Nov 1; Regular Decision Jan 20. 2 scholarship, honors or program deadlines come before Regular Decision; see the insider deadlines table on this page.
How much does University of Maryland, College Park cost?
The 2025-2026 cost of attendance is $32,408 for in-state students and $62,374 for out-of-state students.
What does Maryland cost for a family earning under $75,000?
The Terrapin Commitment covers standard in-state tuition and mandatory fees for Pell-eligible Marylanders and families with income of $75,000 or less with unmet need, after other aid. Federal data shows an average net price of $10,273 for families earning $48,001 to $75,000. File the FAFSA by Mar 1 to qualify.
What happens if my student is not admitted to a Limited Enrollment Program?
They can still be admitted to Maryland and are placed in Letters and Sciences. To move into the LEP later, they must complete gateway requirements and apply. Current students switching into an LEP must apply as well, so the preferred major on the application carries real weight.
About the author
Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, spanning test preparation, college advising and academic program management. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.
ConnectPrep is based in Westport, Connecticut, and works with students from kindergarten through graduate school, in person and online. Meet the team.
This profile is an independent ConnectPrep resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by University of Maryland, College Park. Figures come from the sources listed above as published when checked in October 2026; the Common Data Set year is noted where used. Policies and costs change, so confirm with the school before applying.
