University of Maryland, College Park was founded in 1856, and in the year 2024, UMD enrollment is up to 40,813 students. The University of Maryland, College Park, has been sought-after by potential students, and by studying at UMD, students could access multiple benefits. U.S. News & World Report ranks UMD as the 17th best public national university, providing numerous academic, social, and professional opportunities for students seeking higher education.
UMD Academic Strength
The University of Maryland is characterized by its strong academic quality. UMD offers students the opportunity to choose from more than 300 degree programs, 12 schools and colleges known for their excellence and creativity. The staff at UMD is a renowned team that consists of two Nobel Prize winners, three Pulitzer Prize winners, 58 members of national academies, and many Fulbright scholars. This abundance of academic skills guarantees that students will receive a top-notch education that equips them for success in their desired industries.
As someone who switched from studying computer science to mechanical engineering, I can confirm that UMD’s computer science program is top-notch. UMD’s CS is renowned for its challenging program and devoted staff who are dedicated to helping students achieve success.
The CS program requires that you take classes out of major so you can learn about related topics that you might be able to apply your knowledge to after graduation, which is also really cool. Finally, there are LOADS of CS clubs, whether you’re into app development, robotics and AI, or cyber security, which you can join right out of the gate and which really enrich your experience at the University of Maryland. The focus on project-based learning pushes students to develop practical skills that are highly valuable in the tech industry.
UMD Housing
Around UMD, there are a variety of on-campus and off-campus choices to meet the various needs of the UMD student body. About 63% of UMD students live off campus, while 37% live in UMD on-campus housing. Finding reasonably priced accommodation can be difficult, uhomes.com offers a number of University of Maryland housing options that are suitable for students on a tight budget.
Browse uhomes.com and filter your ideal UMD housing conveniently located close to campus. A variety of floor plans are provided, including studio, 1-bedroom and shared rooms, to cater to your lifestyle. In addition to housing and academics, the University of Maryland provides a vibrant campus community that enhances the whole student experience.
The campus is distinguished by its large green areas, which offer students peaceful places to study, unwind, and socialize.
Proximity to DC
UMD is situated in College Park, close to Washington, D.C., which is 8 miles/13 kilometers from the campus. Good location being close to DC but far enough that you still feel like you’re in a college campus. Many companies are based in or have offices in the DMV so there’s a solid pipeline from UMD to these companies. Proximity to DC.
Need to unwind after a stressful week? For a few bucks you can grab the metro down to the nation’s capital, see any number of fantastic museums, or eat a wide range of great food. Not to mention AMAZING internship and job opportunities.
UMD Campus Life
There are plenty of out-of-state students at the University which means you’ll find people who have common experiences but also loads of local people who can show you cool things to do or places to go in the state if you’re the adventuring type.
I really appreciate the diversity of individuals and the diversity of courses offered at the University. If students want to relax, UMD campus has lots of green space. UMD has a ton of green space.
Whether you want to do your reading out on the mall or just take a walk, it’s a really beautiful campus with a lot of space to sprawl out. Bonus, there’s Wi-Fi everywhere. UMD campus size is 5 square kilometers. 5 libraries with tons of databases all students can access. A lot of benefits are reciprocal with other Big Ten school too (library material access, etc.) – just need to look and take advantage of them.
Plus size means that there are tons of clubs, including ones smaller schools could never have (like an FM radio station). Again, the size of the UMD campus helps with this. Don’t feel like a dork going to some academic speaker alone, you can learn a lot and really be engaged intellectually. Plus, it’s almost entirely free as a student.
UMD Students Job Opportunities
Even though attending class is crucial, the University of Maryland recognizes that not all of the best learning takes place on campus. When appropriate, education should go beyond the classroom. The University of Maryland ensures that research and internship opportunities are available to its students. Similar to this, there are several internships with faculty in the nearby and easily accessible cities of Washington, DC, and Baltimore, as well as many internships on campus. Additionally, there is the Office of Community Engagement and Service, which links students with community service opportunities.
Wrap Up
In conclusion, you can pretty much have everything you ever need right in the immediate area of College Park for your first two years. Plus, you can take full advantage of going to DC via the Metro.
