University of Maryland-Baltimore County

In the 2027 US News ranking of national universities, University of Maryland-Baltimore County ranked 137th, maintaining a steady upward trajectory from 159th in 2018. Gaining admission is relatively accessible, as the university accepted 72.4% of applicants in 2025. That admit rate is higher than 37% of peer schools in a comparison group of 30 similarly ranked public universities. While the school offers accessible admissions, it draws a modest proportion of accepted candidates. In 2025, its yield rate was 21.6%, meaning about one in five admitted applicants ultimately chose to enroll, although this enrollment rate is still higher than 67% of peer institutions. For applicants, this profile points to a reliable regional option with consistent admission prospects.

University of Maryland-Baltimore County operates under a test-optional admissions policy, where standardized test scores are considered if submitted. For the 2025 cycle, published score ranges for the middle half of students were 630 to 700 for SAT Reading and 610 to 720 for SAT Math, while ACT composite scores spanned the mid-twenties to low thirties. In 2025, roughly a quarter of enrolled undergraduates submitted SAT results, and the school's median SAT score was higher than 88% of peer schools in its comparison group of similarly ranked public comprehensive universities. Regarding secondary school grades, unofficial applicant cases collected by Forward Pathway show that admitted international students held a median unweighted GPA of 3.64. Together, these metrics indicate that successful candidates generally demonstrate solid classroom achievement alongside competitive test performance relative to peer institutions. For students evaluating their chances, these score and grade distributions offer a clear reference point to assess how their academic qualifications compare to the university's admitted cohort.

Degrees at University of Maryland-Baltimore County are somewhat concentrated, with the top three bachelor's fields accounting for 37.7% of all undergraduate degrees in 2025. The most popular undergraduate programs are Computer Science and Biology, alongside Psychology and Information Science. While Computer Science is the largest undergraduate major, it is not the highest-ranked discipline; for graduate programs, US News ranked statistics 53rd and environmental engineering 54th in 2026, while undergraduate engineering ranked 87th in 2027. Early career financial returns remain strong in technical fields. Based on 2023 earnings data, median earnings one year after graduation reached $86,599 for computer engineering and $83,058 for computer science. Students targeting technical and analytical tracks can anticipate solid job market outcomes.

The student body at University of Maryland-Baltimore County features significant diversity, with distinct representations of Asian and international students across academic divisions. Among first-year undergraduates in 2025, Asian students formed the largest ethnic group, with 628 individuals accounting for 28% of entering freshmen. Domestic minority groups, including African American and Hispanic students, also maintain a substantial presence throughout the undergraduate community. In contrast, international representation is concentrated primarily at the advanced level. In the graduate division, foreign scholars totaled 1,607 students, making up 51.2% of all graduate enrollment. Meanwhile, international undergraduates make up a modest share of the campus community. For prospective applicants, this environment offers a balanced undergraduate campus life alongside a heavily internationalized graduate research community, providing opportunities to collaborate across diverse domestic and global backgrounds.

Undergraduate education at University of Maryland-Baltimore County primarily caters to traditional college-age students, while graduate studies serve a slightly older population. In 2025, undergraduates aged 18 to 19 made up 36.4% of the undergraduate body, and those aged 20 to 21 accounted for 35.6%. Together, students between 18 and 21 form the vast majority of the undergraduate campus. In contrast, the graduate division of 3,139 students is led by individuals aged 22 to 24 at 34.8%, followed by students aged 25 to 29 at 30.6%. This distribution keeps undergraduate social life centered on recent high school graduates while maintaining a distinct early-career community in graduate programs.

International student enrollment at University of Maryland-Baltimore County shows very different trajectories at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Among undergraduates, the overseas share has grown slightly over time, reaching 4.8% in 2025. By comparison, graduate international enrollment experienced rapid growth, rising to represent 51.2% of all graduate students. This stark divide is clearly reflected in degree outcomes, as international scholars earned only a small single-digit share of bachelor's degrees but comprised 67.8% of all master's graduates in 2025. At the master's level, international students concentrate heavily in technical disciplines, making up large majorities in fields such as Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Information Science/Studies, and Engineering/Industrial Management. At the doctoral level, international graduates similarly cluster in areas like Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Computer Science. For prospective international applicants, these patterns indicate a strong and established global community in graduate STEM programs, while undergraduates study within a predominantly domestic student body.

Applicants exploring colleges near University of Maryland-Baltimore County have access to several notable public and private institutions within a short driving distance. Located just 6.9 kilometers away in Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a leading national university ranked 9th in the 2027 US News rankings. Moving toward the Washington metropolitan area, University of Maryland-College Park is a major public institution ranked 49th and located 22.4 kilometers from the campus. For students interested in a liberal arts curriculum, St. John's College is located 22.4 kilometers away and ranked 81st among liberal arts colleges, while the highly selective United States Naval Academy is located 22.7 kilometers away and ranked 3rd among liberal arts colleges.

Campus safety data at University of Maryland-Baltimore County indicates a relatively steady environment largely driven by internal disciplinary matters. In 2025, the campus crime rate per 1,000 students stood at 6.6, remaining fairly consistent with levels observed in earlier years. Between 2023 and 2025, alcohol-related disciplinary referrals constituted the most frequent category, totaling 139 incidents across that three-year span. Stalking represented the next largest category with 66 incidents over the same period, followed by reports of motor vehicle theft and rape. Because non-violent behavioral referrals form the predominant share of recorded safety issues, the overall security climate remains stable for daily campus activities. Nevertheless, prospective students and their families should review the university's emergency resources and support services, as maintaining personal awareness and utilizing campus safety escorts remains essential at any comprehensive university.