Urban access
highRegional transit provides access to Washington.
COLLEGE FIT GUIDE
Evidence checked · 2026-10-06
University of Maryland College Park
Maryland is a large flagship research university with strong computing, engineering, business, journalism, public policy, sciences, and arts programs. Proximity to Washington, D.C. expands research and career access while the campus retains a major residential identity.
- Flagship research near Washington
- Academic choices and structure
- Separate institutional opportunity from individual access
QUICK READ
- Location
- College Park, Maryland · Suburban urban-edge setting
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 30,760
- Aggregate admission rate
- 44.8%
- Average net price
- $15,678
FIT SNAPSHOT
How this environment may feel
These are directional interpretations of the college environment, not a score or universal verdict.
Learning by doing
highResearch and metro institutions create applied routes.
Career orientation
highThe capital region supports extensive professional exploration.
School spirit
highBig Ten athletics and traditions are prominent.
WHY IT MAY FIT
Consider University of Maryland College Park if…
- You want flagship breadth near Washington.
- You value computing and engineering strength.
- You want research and internships.
- You like Big Ten school spirit.
POSSIBLE TENSIONS
It may not fit if…
- You prefer a small college.
- You want a self-contained college town.
- You need uniformly small classes.
- You dislike navigating a large institution.
WHAT STANDS OUT
The environment behind the name
Flagship research near Washington
Undergraduates can pursue faculty research across institutes, laboratories, and creative programs.
Source: Office of Undergraduate Research
Academic choices and structure
Washington-area government, employers, nonprofits, and cultural institutions extend classroom learning.
Source: Academics
A setting that shapes the experience
College Park, Maryland gives students a distinct context for campus life, work, community, and recreation.
Source: Academics
LOOK CLOSER
Questions worth asking before you decide
Use these prompts during a visit, an information session, or a conversation with a current student.
- 1
Separate institutional opportunity from individual access
University of Maryland documents substantial opportunities, but availability can differ by program, timing, prerequisites, capacity, and student initiative.
Source: Academics
- 2
Interpret scale and selectivity carefully
Federal data report 30,760 undergraduates and an aggregate admission rate of 44.8%. These figures describe the institution, not an individual applicant’s probability or a particular program’s experience.
Source: University of Maryland College Park institutional data
- 3
Use the current price for your circumstances
Federal data report an average net price of $15,678. This historical average is not a quote; residency, income, housing, aid eligibility, and program costs can materially change what a family pays.
Source: University of Maryland College Park institutional data
FEDERAL CLERY DATA
Campus safety statistics, with context
Federal Clery records describe reported incidents within defined campus geography. They are not a measure of crime prevalence or an overall safety rating.
2024 reported on-campus offenses:321
Per 1,000 enrolled:7.7
Reporting campuses:3
COMPARE THE TRADEOFFS
Schools that sharpen the question
A useful comparison for students evaluating University of Maryland across academics, setting, scale, and student experience.
A useful comparison for students evaluating University of Maryland across academics, setting, scale, and student experience.
A useful comparison for students evaluating University of Maryland across academics, setting, scale, and student experience.
EVIDENCE
Sources and method
View the reviewed sources
- Academics - University of Maryland College Park (official, retrieved 2026-10-06)
- Office of Undergraduate Research - University of Maryland College Park (official, retrieved 2026-10-06)
- University of Maryland College Park institutional data - U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (federal, retrieved 2026-10-06)
Navastra interprets University of Maryland’s documented academic environment, setting, opportunities, and federal reference fields through preference dimensions. The page describes documented structures, not every student’s experience. It does not calculate an individual fit score, predict admission, or estimate a financial-aid award. Read the methodology →
Programs, policies, costs, and campus life change. Verify current details with the college ↗
PERSONALIZE THE QUESTION