Chartered in 1856 as Maryland Agricultural College and growing into the state's public land-grant flagship, the University of Maryland, College Park is a major public research university located in Prince George's County, Maryland. Spanning a vast 1,250-acre red-brick campus situated just four miles from the Washington, D.C. border, UMD connects top-tier engineering, computer science, business, and journalism with national policy and defense research. You can explore its historic charter and land-grant evolution through the UMD Wikipedia historical entry.
When you attend UMD, you step into a high-powered research university located inside the Washington metropolitan area. Living in College Park gives you direct access to federal research agencies, state government offices, media networks, and national laboratories.
Premier Academic Programs
UMD hosts 12 specialized colleges and schools holding national reputations for excellence:
- A. James Clark School of Engineering: Global leader in aerospace systems, cybersecurity, bioengineering, mechanical design, and materials science.
- Robert H. Smith School of Business: Nationally recognized for supply chain management, finance, business analytics, and corporate strategy. Explore degree paths on the Smith School of Business portal.
- Philip Merrill College of Journalism: Premier journalism school preparing leaders in investigative reporting, broadcasting, and digital media production.
- College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences: Top-ranked center for artificial intelligence, quantum computing, physics, and genomics.
- School of Public Policy: Prepares policy leaders through direct proximity to federal policy centers and international non-profit organizations.
"Strong deeds, gentle words, translated from the state motto, serves as UMD's official institutional motto."
Campus Culture and Mascot
Your daily student experience centers on McKeldin Mall, the largest academic mall in the United States, anchored by McKeldin Library and Testudo statues. School spirit revolves around Testudo, the Diamondback Terrapin mascot whose bronze statues across campus are rubbed on the nose by students for good luck before examinations. You can read about the mascot history and game-day traditions on the official Testudo the Terrapin Mascot page. Cheering inside XFINITY Center and SECU Stadium during NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference athletic events creates an energetic campus culture.
Research Infrastructure and Quantum Discovery
UMD operates a multi-billion-dollar research framework deeply connected with federal laboratories:
- Joint Quantum Institute (JQI): Partnership between UMD and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), driving quantum physics research.
- Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC): Research institute collaborating with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center on climate modeling. Learn more via UMD Research Operations.
- Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS): University-affiliated research center addressing national security and defense challenges.
Notable Alumni Legacy
You walk in the footsteps of tech founders, creative pioneers, media figures, and public servants, including:
- Sergey Brin: Computer scientist and co-founder of Google who earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics at UMD.
- Jim Henson: Creative visionary and creator of The Muppets who studied studio arts and home economics at UMD.
- Connie Chung: Trailblazing broadcast journalist and television news anchor who earned her journalism degree at UMD.
- Larry David: Emmy Award-winning comedian, writer, and co-creator of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm who earned his history degree at UMD.
UMD provides full tuition coverage for qualified Maryland undergraduate families through the Terp Commitment financial aid program. Review full admission standards on the official UMD Undergraduate Admissions portal.