How to Get Into the University of Maryland: Acceptance Rate & Strategies
August 12, 2025
Prior to the turn of the new millennium, the University of Maryland, College Park welcomed 75% of the applicant pool into the Terrapin family. In recent years, the University of Maryland’s acceptance rate has been as low as 44% and the number of applicants has more than doubled since the end of the Clinton Presidency. A generation ago, many Maryland freshmen possessed solid but unspectacular academic credentials; in 2024, first-year Terrapins sport a median SAT score of 1470 and an average weighted GPA of nearly 4.4. Yes鈥t鈥檚 really THAT competitive. No wonder the UMD acceptance rate has been trending sharply downward.
Given this sharp rise in selectivity, the intent of this article is to give those considering applying to the University of Maryland an understanding of the following topics:
- University of Maryland, College Park acceptance rate (plus how to predict your chances with our free admissions calculator)
- UMD in-state vs. out-of-state acceptance rate
- University of Maryland鈥檚 Early Action acceptance rate
- GPA, SAT, GPA, and class rank of accepted University of Maryland applicants
- Admissions trends
- University of Maryland鈥檚 system for rating applicants
- A look at the demographics of current University of Maryland undergraduates
- The percentage of accepted students that attend the University of Maryland (yield rate)
- Tips for applying to the University of Maryland
- UMD Supplemental Essay Advice
- How to assess whether applying to the University of Maryland is even worth the $75 application fee (for you)
UMD College Park Admissions Calculator
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University of Maryland, College Park Acceptance Rate 鈥 Class of 2028
There were a staggering 60,042 applications for admission into the Terrapin Class of 2028. Only 26,897 students, or 44% of that group, were accepted to the College Park campus.
Historical UMD acceptance rates are as follows:
| Applicants | Admits | Acceptance Rate | |
| Class of 2027 | 59,369 | 26,623 | 45% |
| Class of 2026 | 56,637 | 25,201 | 44% |
| Class of 2025 | 50,146 | 26,072 | 52% |
| Class of 2024 | 32,211 | 16,437 | 51% |
University of Maryland In-State vs. Out-of-State Acceptance Rate
Maryland does grant favor in the admissions process to in-state applicants. For the Class of 2028, the UMD in-state acceptance rate was 50% while the out-of-state acceptance rate was 42%.
University of Maryland, College Park Early Action Acceptance Rate
Based on the most recent data available, applying to the University of Maryland during the Early Action round is almost a requirement. The Class of 2025 saw 61% of EA applicants accepted and just 38% of Regular Decision applicants achieving the same positive result. A stunning 90%+ of that incoming class was accepted via Early Action. For reference, the overall acceptance rate for that cohort was 52%.
What GPA do you need to get into UMD?
Among enrolled 2024-2025 first-year students, the average GPA was 4.4. Moreover, 91% of enrolled students had a GPA of 4.0 or above, while 4% had a GPA between 3.75 and 3.99. Only 2% of students had a GPA under 3.75.
What class rank do you need to get accepted to UMD?
73% of enrolled Class of 2028 students hailed from the top 10%, while nearly 88% earned a place in the top quarter. A whopping 99% placed in the top half.
What is the minimum SAT or ACT score for the University of Maryland?
Nearly half of enrolled Class of 2028 freshmen submitted test scores. The mid-50% SAT range was 1410-1520, and the mid-50% ACT range was 32-35.
Admissions Trends & Notes 鈥 Class of 2028
- Firstly, 70% of the incoming class were Maryland residents.
- In the student body as a whole, there are international students from 138 countries.
- The number of applicants rose nearly 50% over the past few years.
- 16% of the Class of 2028 were the first in their families to go to college.
How the University of Maryland Rates Applicants
The University of Maryland considers only two factors as 鈥渧ery important鈥 to the admissions process: rigor of high school course load and GPA. Items that are 鈥渋mportant鈥 as part of the admissions process are: essays, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, first-generation status, and character/personal qualities. 鈥淐onsidered鈥 factors are: class rank, standardized test scores, first generation status, geographical residence, state residence, work experience, and volunteer work.
Diving a bit deeper, the university does list additional factors that are considered during their review process. Some of these are identical to those listed above, but many are different, shedding a bit of additional light on how holistic application reviews are conducted:
Holistic reviews include:
- Progression of performance
- The breadth of life experiences
- Gender
- Recognition of special achievements
- Extenuating circumstances
- Socio-economic background
- Written expression of ideas (as demonstrated in the essay)
- Community service
- Demonstrated leadership
- Learning differences
- Family educational background
- English as a second language/Language spoken at home
Straight from the UMD admissions office: 鈥淭he undergraduate admissions process is rigorous and individualized. As the university must make fine distinctions among large numbers of highly qualified applicants, the ability to assess consistently all information presented in the application becomes increasingly important. Therefore, the university employs a holistic review process that engages the expertise of professional educators whose judgments鈥攂ased upon consideration of each applicant鈥檚 credentials measured by all admissions criteria鈥攂uild an entering class that will best complement the existing student body and meet the university鈥檚 mission objectives.鈥
It is also worth highlighting that recruited athletes enjoy a huge edge. This is because the University of Maryland takes great pride in its . Overall, more than 700 student-athletes are presently attending the university. Lastly, for advice about how to stand out on the extracurricular front, check out our previous blog entitled How Many Extracurricular Activities Do I Need for College?
Who Actually Gets Into UMD?
Let鈥檚 take a look at the demographics of the University of Maryland undergraduate student body.
The states that typically send the highest number of students to UMD are:
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
The fewest students come from the following states:
- Montana
- Wyoming
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Iowa
For the Class of 2028, the greatest number of international students come from the following countries:
- India
- China
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Iran
In terms of ethnic identity, the breakdown for the Class of 2028 was as follows:
- White: 40%
- Asian: 29%
- Hispanic: 10%
- Black or African American: 11.6%
- Two or More Races: 6%
- International: 3%
A look at the gender split reveals that the university enrolled nearly an even split of men and women into the Class of 2028:
- Men: 49%
- Women: 51%
University of Maryland鈥檚 Yield Rate
University of Maryland鈥檚 yield rate鈥攖he percentage of accepted students who chose to enroll鈥攊s 21.6%, significantly lower than other powerhouse state universities like the University of Florida, University of Michigan, and UVA. However, the in-state yield rate (49%) is much higher than the out-of-state yield rate (9.3%), which also helps to explain why the in-state acceptance rate is higher as well.
Tips for Applying to the University of Maryland
If you plan on joining the 59,000+ University of Maryland hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:
- Firstly, APPLY EARLY by November 1! This one is in all caps in case you are skimming and missed our previous look at EA vs RD acceptance rates.
- UMD will continue to be test-optional through fall 2027.
- The University of Maryland does not use interviews as part of its evaluation process.
- Additionally, the University of Maryland does not consider 鈥demonstrated interest鈥 so you will not be judged on whether or not you made a campus visit, contacted an admissions officer, etc.
- Prospective Terrapins can apply through the Common Application or Coalition Application.
- In short, the preferred major you list is not a factor in the general admissions process. However, applicants to majors that are 鈥淟imited Enrollment Programs鈥 will face additional departmental scrutiny due to limited space. For a full list of LEPs, .
- Lastly, make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the short responses required by the University of Maryland. In the 2025-26 cycle, they were as follows:
At the University of Maryland, we encourage our students to go beyond the classroom to engage in opportunities that further both their academic and personal growth.
To tell us more about yourself, please complete the following sentences using only the space provided (650 characters).
- If I could travel anywhere, I would go to…
- The most interesting fact I ever learned from research was…
- In addition to my major, my academic interests include…
- My favorite thing about last Monday was…
- Something you might not know about me is…
- Because we know that diversity benefits the educational experience of all students, the University of Maryland values diversity in all of its many forms. 听This includes (but is not limited to) racial, socio-economic, gender, geographical, and sexual orientation. We are interested in hearing about your own individual life experiences. In a few sentences, will you please describe how you have learned, grown, been inspired or developed skills through one or more components of diversity.听
For 国产第一福利影院草草’ advice on how to address all six University of Maryland-College Park essays, visit our blog: University of Maryland Supplemental Essay Prompts and Tips.
Should I apply to the University of Maryland?
Those with SAT/ACT scores within the mid-50% mark for the University of Maryland who are also at the very top of their respective high school class are absolutely viable candidates to this excellent institution. As the school states, 鈥淎dmitted freshman students have a strong A-/B+ or better average in their high school coursework and are enrolled in the most challenging courses available to them including honors, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate courses.鈥
UMD Acceptance Rate – Final Thoughts
Of course, it goes without saying that all teens applying to a school of the University of Maryland鈥檚 caliber also need to also have a proper mix of 鈥渢arget鈥 and 鈥渟afety鈥 schools on their college list. More on creating a balanced college list can be found here.
Ready to start crafting your applications? You might find the following resources helpful:
- Should You Start College Applications in the Summer?
- What is Demonstrated Interest?
- Do Colleges Look at Social Media?
- College Fair Advice for High School Students
- How to Complete the Common App Activities List
- Common App Essay Prompts
- 25 Inspiring College Essay Topic Ideas
