University of Maryland: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

The McKeldin Library at the University of Maryland
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The University of Maryland at College Park is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 44%. The University of Maryland consistently ranks among the top Maryland colleges and the best national public universities. Considering applying to the University of Maryland? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Why the University of Maryland?

  • Location: College Park, Maryland
  • Campus Features: Located just north of Washington D.C. and several area colleges, students can take advantage of the city's many cultural, entertainment, and learning opportunities. The 1,250-acre campus is well known for its attractive red-brick buildings.
  • Student/Faculty Ratio: 18:1
  • Athletics: The Maryland Terrapins compete in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference.
  • Highlights: Students can choose from over 800 student clubs, 90 undergraduate majors, and 230 graduate programs. The university also wins high marks for its value, particularly for in-state applicants.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, the University of Maryland had an acceptance rate of 44%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 44 students were admitted, making University of Maryland's admissions process competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2018-19)
Number of Applicants 32,987
Percent Admitted 44%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 29%

SAT Scores and Requirements

The University of Maryland requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 82% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 630 720
Math 650 760
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that most of the University of Maryland's admitted students fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to UMD scored between 630 and 720, while 25% scored below 630 and 25% scored above 720. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 650 and 760, while 25% scored below 650 and 25% scored above 760. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1480 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at the University of Maryland.

Requirements

The University of Maryland does not require the SAT writing section or SAT Subject tests. Note that UMD participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates.

ACT Scores and Requirements

The University of Maryland requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 31% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
English 28 35
Math 27 33
Composite 29 33

This admissions data tells us that most of University of Maryland's admitted students fall within the top 9% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to UMD received a composite ACT score between 29 and 33, while 25% scored above 33 and 25% scored below 29.

Requirements

The University of Maryland does not require the ACT writing section. Unlike many universities, UMD superscores ACT results; your highest subscores from multiple ACT sittings will be considered.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA for incoming University of Maryland freshman was 4.32, and over 93% of incoming students had average GPAs above 3.75. These results suggest that most successful applicants to UMD have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

University of Maryland Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph.
University of Maryland Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph.  Data courtesy of Cappex.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to the University of Maryland. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

The University of Maryland has a competitive admissions pool with an acceptance rate below 50% and high average GPAs and SAT/ACT scores. However, the University of Maryland has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. A strong application essay and short answer responses can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities, glowing letters of recommendation, and a rigorous course schedule. UMD will want to see that you have taken challenging college preparatory classes, including IB, AP, Honors, and dual enrollment. The UMD website lists 26 factors that are taken into consideration when the admissions staff reviews applications. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and test scores are outside UMD's average range.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that the great majority of successful applicants had high school averages of "B+" or higher, combined SAT scores (ERW+M) of about 1050 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 21 or higher. The higher your grades and test scores, the better your chances of getting in, and the great majority of successful applicants had SAT scores above 1200.

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and University of Maryland's Undergraduate Admissions Office.

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Grove, Allen. "University of Maryland: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/university-of-maryland-college-park-admissions-787242. Grove, Allen. (2023, April 5). University of Maryland: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/university-of-maryland-college-park-admissions-787242 Grove, Allen. "University of Maryland: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/university-of-maryland-college-park-admissions-787242 (accessed March 29, 2024).