Admissions
Getting in, 2024-25
U. Maryland-College Park admits about 1 in 2 applicants (45%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 86% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Applicants from Maryland and from other states were admitted at similar rates (44% and 46%).
$75 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 42%, women at 47%.
Yield
22% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 247 offered a place, 0 accepted, 0 admitted
Applying early
Early action (not binding)
No early decision plan.
Where you stand
How U. Maryland-College Park reads a record
is very important; GPA is important; class rank and tests are both considered. This college reports (average 4.41), which pile most students into the top band; the bands can't show how crowded unweighted GPAs are. Scores are optional. 37% of first-years sent an SAT and 7% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Requires 4 years of English, 4 of math, 3 of science, and 3 of social studies. See the years by subject
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Considered | ||||
| Academic GPA | Important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Important | ||||
| Recommendations | Important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Not considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Important | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Considered | ||||
| Work experience | Considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Not considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program considered; demonstration of competencies considered; English proficiency test required; other tests considered
Transferring in
53% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 45% of first-year applicants
7,653 applied · 4,086 admitted · 2,442 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
At least 12 attempted credits completed to apply as a transfer.
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date March 1, apply by June 1
- Spring entry: priority date August 1, apply by November 15
What the application needs
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Not required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 20 for fall 2026.
- Priority date: November 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent by February 1.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within a set number of weeks if admitted later.
- $50 housing deposit, refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 12 months.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 4 |
| Science (lab: 2) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 2 |
| Social studies | 3 |
| History | 3 |
| Total | 19* |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science. *Added up from the subjects listed; the college didn't give a total.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 4.41, weighted
This average gives extra points for honors and AP courses, so it runs above 4.0 and can't be compared with an unweighted GPA.
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
At colleges with a weighted average, the “4.0” band seems to hold every GPA of 4.0 or more.
- 4.089%
- 3.75–3.996%
- 3.50–3.743%
- 3.25–3.491%
- 3.00–3.241%
- below 3.00%
The middle half had GPAs of 4.0–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | Sent test scores |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 89.2% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 6.1% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 2.5% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 1.1% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 0.7% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.3% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.1% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
1% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 1% in the top quarter, of the 0% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:University of Maryland-College Park Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1460 on the SAT, 290 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
80% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1400 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an ACT (94%) scored 30 or higher.
74% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
80% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
89% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
76% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 37% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 7% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:University of Maryland-College Park Common Data Set, 2024-25;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;University of Maryland-College Park Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;University of Maryland-College Park Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;University of Maryland-College Park Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;University of Maryland-College Park Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)