UMD Acceptance Rate 2023 | University of Maryland

All the detailed information about the UMD Acceptance Rate is readily available on this page, catering to both undergraduate and graduate applicants.

Back before the year 2000, the University of Maryland-College Park used to welcome a lot of students – about 75% of the people who applied would get in. But in recent years, something interesting has happened with how they decide who gets to join their community. The acceptance rate, which is the percentage of people accepted, has gone down a lot. It used to be 75%, and now it’s as low as 41% when it’s at its lowest point.

It’s not just about how hard it is to get in now, though. More people than ever want to be part of the University of Maryland. Back when Bill Clinton was the president, the number of people applying was much smaller than it is today. Now, there are more than twice as many people trying to become students at the university.

About one generation ago, the students who started at the University of Maryland weren’t necessarily the very best in terms of academics, but they were still good. However, things have changed a lot by the year 2023. Now, the new students who are starting their journey at the university have really impressive numbers. The average score on a test called the SAT is 1440, which is really high, and their grades are also really good, with an average of almost 4.4 out of 5.

These big numbers might surprise you, and they show just how competitive it has become to join the University of Maryland. The university has become really popular, and this has made it much harder for people to get in. So, it’s not a big surprise that the acceptance rate has gone down so much.

University of Maryland Acceptance Rate 

The University of Maryland was flooded with a lot of applications from students who wanted to join the Terrapin Class of 2026 – a huge number, exactly 56,637. But out of all these hopeful applications, only a smaller group of 25,201 students were chosen by the admissions committee to be accepted, making up just 44% of the total number. These lucky students were given the opportunity to become part of the College Park campus community.

When it comes to picking students, the University of Maryland sometimes gives a special look to those who come from the same state, showing them a bit of extra kindness in the process. Sadly, we don’t have the exact numbers to show how much of a benefit this gives to students from within the state compared to those from other places. The university has decided to keep this information a secret, so we’re left without a clear understanding of how big this advantage really is. Because of this mystery, we can’t fully explain just how much of an impact this special treatment for in-state students has on who gets accepted and who doesn’t.

University of Maryland 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 the incoming class was accepted via Early Action. The overall acceptance rate for that cohort was 52%.

University of Maryland Admissions – SAT, GPA, and Class Rank

For Class of 2025 members, the mid-50% SAT range for enrolled freshmen was 1370-1510, the ACT range was 30-34. Moreover, 85% possessed a weighted GPA of 4.0 or greater. Among enrolled 2022-23 first-year students, an impressive 66% hailed from the top 10% of their high school class, while 90% earned a place in the top 25%.

Admissions Trends & Notes

• Firstly, 76% of current undergraduates are Maryland residents.
• Additionally, there are international students from 116 countries.
• The number of applicants rose from roughly 32,000 to over 56,000 over the fast few years.
• 14.% of freshmen entered with enough college credit to begin with sophomore standing.
• Lastly, UMD- College Park was test-optional for the fall 2023 admissions cycle and will be again for the 2024 and 2025 cycles as well.

How the University of Maryland Rates Applicants

University of Maryland considers only three factors as “very important” to the admissions process: rigor of high school course load, GPA, and standardized test scores.

Items that are “important” as part of the admissions process are: class rank, first-generation status, essays, recommendations, talent/ability, first-generation status, and state residency. “Considered” factors are: geographical residence, extracurricular activities, character/personal qualities, alumni relation, racial/ethnic status, 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

The UMD admissions office has a very careful and personalized way of looking at applications from students who want to join the university. Because they have a lot of really good applications to go through, it’s really important for them to look at all the information in a consistent and fair way.

They do this by using a process called “holistic review.” This means that they ask experienced educators to carefully consider all the things that make an applicant special. They look at everything like grades, test scores, and other important details. This helps them choose students who will fit in well with the other students already at the university and who will help the university achieve its goals.

Something interesting to know is that students who are really good at sports and are recruited to play for the university’s sports teams get a big advantage. The University of Maryland is proud of its 19 NCAA Division I sports teams, and it has more than 700 students who are athletes. This is something that can make a big difference for those athletes when they’re applying to the university.

University of Maryland Demographics

Let’s now take a look at the demographics of the University of Maryland undergraduate student body.

The states that send the highest number of students to UMD are:

1. Maryland
2. New Jersey
3. New York
4. Pennsylvania
5. Virginia

The fewest students come from the following states:

1. Montana
2. Wyoming
3. North Dakota
4. South Dakota
5. Alaska

The greatest number of international students come from the following countries:

1. China
2. India
3. South Korea
4. Spain
5. Taiwan

In terms of ethnic identity, the breakdown is as follows:

• White: 45%
• Asian: 20%
• Hispanic: 10%
• African American: 12%
• Two or More Races: 5%
• International: 3%

A look at the gender split reveals that university enrolls more men than women.

• Men: 51%
• Women: 49%

University of Maryland’s “Yield Rate”

University of Maryland’s yield rate is 23%. In other words, 23% of those accepted went on to enroll. This figure is significantly lower than other powerhouse state universities like the University of Florida, University of Michigan, and UVA.

Tips for Applying to the University of Maryland

If you plan on joining the 56,000+ 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.
• The University of Maryland does not use interviews as part of its evaluation process.
• Additionally, the University of Maryland does not consider “demonstrated interest” 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 “Limited Enrollment Programs” will face additional departmental scrutiny due to limited space.
• Lastly, make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the “Complete this Sentence” short responses required by the University of Maryland. In the 2021-22 cycle, they are 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 (160 characters).

1. If I could travel anywhere, I would go to…*
2. The most interesting fact I ever learned from research was…*
3. In addition to my major, my academic interests include…*
4. My favorite thing about last Monday was…*
5. Something you might not know about me is…*

Summary of UMD Acceptance Rate

If your SAT/ACT scores fall within the middle 50% range that the University of Maryland considers, and if you’re also at the top of your high school class, you have a really good chance of being a strong candidate for this great school.

The university wants to see that you’ve done well in your classes, with an average around A-/B+ or better. They also like it when students have taken challenging courses like honors, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate classes.

It’s also important to remember that if you’re aiming for a school as good as the University of Maryland, it’s a good idea to apply to a mix of schools that you’re likely to get into (your “safety” schools) and schools that might be a bit more of a challenge (your “target” schools). This way, you’ll have a balanced list of options for college.