Understanding the University of Maryland Acceptance Rate: A Comprehensive Guide

The University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) is a popular choice for students seeking higher education. A key factor for prospective students is understanding the university's acceptance rate and what it takes to gain admission. This article provides a detailed overview of UMD's acceptance rate, the academic standards, and other factors that influence admissions decisions.

UMD Admissions: An Overview

The University of Maryland, College Park has an acceptance rate of 45%, making it moderately selective. This means that the school expects you to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but they're more flexible than other schools. If you exceed their requirements, you have an excellent chance of getting in. 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. There were a staggering 60,042 applications for admission into the Terrapin Class of 2028.

Academic Performance

GPA Requirements

GPA is a very important academic factor. The average GPA at University of Maryland is 4.44. This requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. If you're a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change from this point on. 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. 73% of enrolled Class of 2028 students hailed from the top 10%, while nearly 88% earned a place in the top quarter.

Standardized Testing: SAT and ACT

Half the applicants admitted to University of Maryland who submitted test scores have an SAT score between 1390 and 1530 or an ACT score of 32 and 35. However, one quarter of admitted applicants achieved scores above these ranges and one quarter scored below these ranges. 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…it’s really THAT competitive. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 4.44, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate.

University of Maryland hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to University of Maryland will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. The 25th percentile SAT score is 1410, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1520. This sounds daunting, but most schools don't actually consider all your scores equally. More commonly, the school will take your highest score on a single test date. Some students are still worried about submitting too many test scores. They're afraid that University of Maryland will look down on too many attempts to raise your score. From our research and talking to admissions officers, we've learned that 4-6 tests is a safe number to submit. The college understands that you want to have the best chance of admission, and retaking the test is a good way to do this. Within a reasonable number of tests, they honestly don't care how many times you've taken it. If you take it more than 6 times, colleges start wondering why you're not improving with each test. But below 6 tests, we strongly encourage retaking the test to maximize your chances. If your SAT score is currently below a 1470, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it.

The average ACT score at University of Maryland is 33. The 25th percentile ACT score is 32, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 35. Even though University of Maryland likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 32 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 33 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). However, in our research, we found that University of Maryland does in fact offer an ACT superscore policy. Superscoring is powerful to your testing strategy, and you need to make sure you plan your testing accordingly. How does superscoring change your test strategy? Even though the highest ACT composite you scored on any one test date was 20, University of Maryland will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and University of Maryland forms your Superscore, you can take the ACT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Therefore, if your ACT score is currently below a 33, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the ACT and retaking it. Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the ACT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. University of Maryland considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration.

Because this school is moderately selective, strong academic performance will almost guarantee you admission. Scoring a 1520 SAT or a 35 ACT or above will nearly guarantee you admission. If you can achieve a high SAT/ACT score, the rest of your application essentially doesn't matter. You still need to meet the rest of the application requirements, and your GPA shouldn't be too far off from the school average of 4.44. But you won't need dazzling extracurriculars and breathtaking letters of recommendation to get in.

Factors Considered in Admissions

The University of Maryland considers only two factors as “very important” to the admissions process: rigor of high school course load and GPA. Items that are “important” as part of the admissions process are: essays, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, first-generation status, and character/personal qualities. Diving a bit deeper, the university does list additional factors that are considered during their review process. Straight from the UMD admissions office: “The 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.

Application Process and Deadlines

The application deadline at University of Maryland, College Park is Jan. 20. The application deadline is January 20. 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. Firstly, APPLY EARLY by November 1!

Other Factors

Recommendation are considered important for admissions officials at University of Maryland, College Park. Lastly, make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the short responses required by the University of Maryland. Because we know that diversity benefits the educational experience of all students, the University of Maryland values diversity in all of its many forms. 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. It is also worth highlighting that recruited athletes enjoy a huge edge. This is because the University of Maryland takes great pride in its 19 NCAA Division I sports teams. Overall, more than 700 student-athletes are presently attending the university. UMD employs holistic admissions, meaning they evaluate your application as a comprehensive picture of you and your achievements, rather than focusing singularly on any one factor. So, make sure all aspects of your application are strong and congruent to your educational goals and personal narrative.

UMD In-State vs. Out-of-State

Maryland does grant favor in the admissions process to in-state applicants.

Additional Considerations

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. Of course, it goes without saying that all teens applying to a school of the University of Maryland’s caliber also need to also have a proper mix of “target” and “safety” schools on their college list.

Limited Enrollment Programs

In short, the preferred major you list is not a factor in the general admissions process. However, applicants to majors that are “Limited Enrollment Programs” will face additional departmental scrutiny due to limited space.

Yield Rate

University of Maryland’s yield rate-the percentage of accepted students who chose to enroll-is 21.6%, significantly lower than other powerhouse state universities like the University of Florida, University of Michigan, and UVA.

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