Navigating Admissions at the University of Maryland: A Comprehensive Guide

Applying to college can be a daunting process. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the undergraduate admission requirements for the University of Maryland (UMD), catering to various applicant profiles, from high school students to veterans and beyond.

Understanding Applicant Categories

UMD recognizes that applicants come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. To streamline the application process, UMD categorizes applicants based on their academic history:

Freshman Applicants: These are students who have completed or will complete a high school diploma or GED and have not attended a college or university since graduating, or have earned fewer than 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours of university-level credit beyond secondary school.
Transfer Applicants: These are students who have completed at least 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours after high school graduation at a regionally accredited college or university, or who have attended college after high school or while on active duty and earned at least 12 college credits.

UMD also recognizes the following categories:

Agriculture Forward at Maryland: an access program for students who plan to pursue a career in agriculture and natural resources.
Concurrent Enrollment: Talented high school seniors can take up to two courses or seven credits during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Golden ID Program: Maryland residents 60 or older and retired can take courses on a space-available basis.
Home-Schooled Students: Specific documentation is required, including course descriptions, books used, and methods of evaluation.
Non-Degree Seeking Students: Applicants who have already completed a bachelor's degree or do not desire to work towards a baccalaureate degree.
Re-enrolling Students: Students who have previously attended UMD and are returning after a period of dismissal or withdrawal.
School of Music Applicants: Require an online application supplement and audition.
Veteran Applicants: Veterans face unique challenges navigating the admission process and UMD provides support through it.

Freshman Admission Requirements

For freshman applicants, UMD considers several factors:

Application: A completed UMD application, submitted online via the Common App or ApplyWeb. The application platform chosen will not make a difference on how the application will be reviewed.
High School Transcript: An official high school transcript. By the end of the first term in which you were admitted, you must provide an official transcript showing you graduated. Until your transcript is received and verified, your enrollment in courses may be affected.
Essay: A personal essay is a crucial part of the application, offering the opportunity to showcase personality and experiences.
Activities and Awards List/Resume: A detailed account of extracurricular activities, awards, and other non-academic pursuits. Applicants should start by sharing the two experiences outside of academics that are most important to them.
Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation are required: one from a school counselor and one from a teacher. Recommendations must be sent directly from the recommender.
Test-Optional Policy: UMD is currently test-optional through to the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles. Students can choose whether or not to submit SAT/ACT scores with their application. As part of the online application, you will be able to indicate your test-optional status.

Academic Preparation

While specific course requirements may vary, UMD generally expects a strong foundation in core academic subjects. This includes:

Four years of mathematics, including Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II.

Holistic Review

UMD employs a holistic admission review process, meaning they consider the applicant as a whole, taking into account academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, personal qualities, and potential contributions to the university community. The admission review process is thorough, individualized and holistic.

Early Action and Regular Decision

UMD offers both Early Action and Regular Decision application options. Early Action has a November 1 deadline and provides priority consideration for admission, merit-based scholarships, and invitations to special programs. The Early Action deadline is non-binding. The Regular Decision deadline follows. Students must submit their application by this date to be considered for all merit scholarships. Admissions decisions are released on a rolling basis beginning October 1.

Transfer Admission Requirements

Transfer applicants have slightly different requirements:

Completed Application: A completed UMD application.
College Transcripts: Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities.
High School Transcript: An official high school transcript is required of students who have earned less than 28 semester hours.
Essay: A personal essay.
Letters of Recommendation: Letters of recommendation.

Admission for Veteran Students

UMD welcomes veteran students and provides support to navigate the admission process.

Freshman Veteran Applicants

Freshman applicants are students who did not attend college out of high school and have not earned more than 12 college credits. To be considered for freshman admission, you need to submit the completed application, your high school transcript and letters of recommendation from current or former military superiors or civilian supervisors. If you’ve been out of school more than three years, you don’t need to submit SAT or ACT scores. Please review all requirements for freshman applicants. We do not need proof of military documentation until after you are offered admission to the university. To help us determine eligibility for student aid and priority registration, during the application process you will be asked to upload a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD form 214).

Transfer Veteran Applicants

Transfer applicants should have attended college after high school or while you were on active duty and earned at least 12 college credits. Credit for basic military training is awarded to qualified students based on submission of required documentation. However, the Joint Services Transcript does not count towards the 12 credits necessary to be a transfer student or the 30 credits necessary to no longer be required to submit high school information. Visit the basic military credit policy for details. Please review all requirements for transfer applicants. We do not need proof of military documentation until after you are offered admission to the university. To help us determine eligibility for student aid and priority registration, during the application process you will be asked to upload a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD form 214).

UMES is fully accredited for accepting veteran students and assists them in their certification. A Certificate of Eligibility must be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Registration when the veteran reports for registration.

Admission for International Students

International students have additional requirements to fulfill:

Application: A completed application.
Transcripts: International students must request their high school, secondary school, and/or other institutions of higher education to forward copies of transcripts, mark sheets, diplomas, or degrees directly to the Office of Admissions. Documents attached to the application will not normally be accepted unless certified by United States Officials abroad.
Proof of English Proficiency: Students from non-English speaking countries should forward the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum TOEFL iBT score of 96 is required; for IELTS, a minimum score of 7.0 is usually expected.
Proof of Financial Self-Sufficiency: International students must provide evidence of sufficient funds to cover their expenses while studying at UMD.
Visa Requirements: An international student will receive an I-20 Form only after acceptance to the University, which will enable the securing of the proper visa from the Office of the American Consulates abroad.

International students should apply well in advance (a six-month period is recommended) of the beginning of the fall or spring semester in the prescribed manner. The application must be completed in all respects and must be accompanied by proof of financial self-sufficiency and knowledge of English.

Other Important Considerations

Limited Enrollment Programs (LEP): Some majors at UMD are designated as Limited Enrollment Programs. While most students are admitted to their preferred major, some LEP applicants may not be.
GPA: GPA is a very important academic factor.
Application Deadlines: Adhering to application deadlines is crucial.

UMES Admission

Prospective students are required to complete an Application for Admission and pay a $55.00 non-refundable application fee. Applications must be received in sufficient time to be properly evaluated. The application priority date for the fall semester is February 15 with a deadline of August 15. For the spring semester, November 1 is the application priority deadline. Applications can be accessed online. Applications received beyond these dates will be considered on a space available basis. Normally, cumulative grade point averages are based on grades earned through the eleventh grade. When it appears that mid-year grades for the senior year of high school may affect a student’s admission status, the grades will be requested and considered before a final admission decision is made. Local high school students who satisfy the requirements for an early admission, but wish to attend UMES while continuing to be enrolled at their high schools, may do so provided they have the approval of their parents and the high school principal. Applicants who qualify for admission but do not desire to work towards a baccalaureate degree may be admitted as non-degree seeking, or special, students. These students may enroll in undergraduate courses for which they possess the necessary prerequisites, but may not enroll in courses restricted to degree seeking students only. Non-degree seeking (special) students who do not have a baccalaureate degree must submit transcripts and meet regular admission standards.

UMGC Admission

Effective January 7, 2021: UMGC accepts the Joint Services Transcript and Community College of the Air Force transcripts as proof of high school graduation or equivalency. On a case-by-case basis, UMGC may accept other military service verification records as proof of high school graduation or equivalency. Effective October 28, 2021: If you graduated from a U.S regionally accredited or state-approved high school or completed a state high school equivalency exam (such as the GED), you may submit a UMGC-issued Attestation Form certifying your graduation from high school or completion of a high school equivalency exam. At any time, UMGC may require that you submit an official transcript or score report for audit or verification purposes. A suspension or expulsion from another institution may affect your eligibility for admission.

Acceptance Rate and Academic Expectations

The acceptance rate at University of Maryland is 44.8%. The school expects you to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but they're more flexible than other schools. If you exceed their requirements, you have an excellent chance of getting in. The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 4.44, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate.

SAT and ACT Scores

University of Maryland hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to University of Maryland will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. The 25th percentile SAT score is 1410, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1520. The average ACT score at University of Maryland is 33. The 25th percentile ACT score is 32, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 35.

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