University of Maryland admission requirements for international students follow the same holistic review as for American applicants. You apply to College Park through the Common App or ApplyWeb, pay an $80 fee, write one essay of up to 650 words, send two recommendations (one from your counsellor and one from a teacher) and your secondary school transcripts, and submit an English test if English is not your first language. SAT and ACT scores are optional through the fall 2027 cycle. UMD admitted 30,282 of 67,178 first-year applicants for fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 45.1%.
Plan your funding before you apply. UMD’s financial certification page says the university is unable to provide financial assistance to international students, and the 2026-27 budget for a non-Maryland undergraduate living on campus is $65,520. For fall 2027 entry, the Early Action deadline is 1 November 2026, which also gives international applicants a decision by 1 February, and the regular deadline is 20 January 2027. Everything here was checked on UMD’s own pages on 29 October 2026.
University of Maryland ranking
In the U.S. News Best Colleges 2027 edition, released in September 2026, the University of Maryland, College Park is ranked #49 National Universities, U.S. News 2027 edition. That is down from No. 42 in the 2026 edition, when UMD also reached No. 16 among public universities, its best result. In the 2026 edition UMD listed computer science at No. 16 and engineering at No. 21 nationally, with cybersecurity at No. 9 and management information systems at No. 9.
University of Maryland acceptance rate and class profile
UMD’s Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment publishes admissions counts every year.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| First-year applications (fall 2025) | 67,178 |
| Admitted (fall 2025) | 30,282 |
| Acceptance rate (fall 2025) | 45.1% |
| First-years enrolled (fall 2025) | 6,544 |
| New first-time students (fall 2026) | 6,360 |
| Undergraduates (fall 2026) | 32,304 |
| Total students (fall 2026) | 42,052 |
UMD’s admissions count does not give a separate international acceptance rate. Acceptance also varies by major, because some majors are Limited Enrollment Programs with their own review. The essay is one of 23 factors UMD lists in its review.
University of Maryland tuition for international students in 2026-27
UMD’s Office of Student Financial Aid publishes this 2026-27 budget for non-Maryland undergraduates. International students pay the non-resident rate.
| Cost item (2026-27, non-Maryland, on campus) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $42,266 |
| Mandatory fees | $1,820 |
| Housing, cable and phone | $10,290 |
| Food plan (average) | $7,180 |
| Books and supplies | $1,250 |
| Transportation | $1,514 |
| Personal costs | $1,200 |
| Total | $65,520 |
Two extra charges apply to many international students. Students who need an I-20 or DS-2019 pay a $125 fee each semester. Juniors and seniors in business, engineering and computer science pay a $3,375 differential charge on top of tuition, according to the University System of Maryland’s 2027 fee schedule. Health insurance and flights are on top as well.
University of Maryland scholarships for international students
UMD’s financial certification page says plainly that the university is unable to provide financial assistance to international students. Its merit scholarship page says the merit awards go to US citizens and eligible non-citizens, and “eligible non-citizen” is a US federal aid category that normally covers permanent residents and refugees, not students on F-1 visas. International students cannot file the FAFSA, and UMD’s pages do not ask them for the CSS Profile or ISFAA.
For reference, these are UMD’s first-year merit awards, so you know what you are not being considered for:
| Scholarship | Amount | Who is considered |
|---|---|---|
| Banneker/Key | Up to full tuition, fees, housing and food, plus a book allowance | Admitted Honors College students; semifinalists are interviewed |
| President’s | $2,000 to $20,000 a year for four years | In-state and out-of-state applicants who are US citizens or eligible non-citizens |
| Dean’s | $1,500 for one year or $4,500 a year for two years | In-state applicants only |
If you think your status might make you eligible, email UMD’s scholarship office before you apply. Otherwise, plan on outside scholarships or family funding. Our list of scholarships for African students and our guide to the best American scholarships for international students are good places to look.
University of Maryland admission requirements for international students: the application
- Application: the Common App or ApplyWeb. UMD reviews both the same way. Use your full legal name exactly as it appears on your passport, and a real foreign street address.
- Fee: $80, paid by credit card. Fee waivers must be submitted before you submit the application.
- Essay: one essay from seven prompts, up to 650 words.
- Activities: an activities and awards list, or a resume.
- Two recommendations: one from your school counsellor and one from a teacher, sent directly by them. Extra letters are welcome.
- Secondary school transcripts: results for the years equal to US grades 9 to 12, in the original language with a certified English translation. Include national exam results such as GCSE/GCE, CBSE, CXC/CSEC or WAEC.
- University transcripts, if any: these need a course-by-course evaluation from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or Josef Silny & Associates. School records do not.
- English test: see below.
You track everything in the Terps Application Portal (TAP). Items can take up to 10 business days to appear, so do not panic if a transcript does not show straight away.
Testing policy: test-optional through fall 2027
UMD is test-optional for application cycles through fall 2027, and merit and Limited Enrollment Program reviews are test-optional too. Your choice on the application is final once you submit. If you send scores, UMD superscores the SAT and ACT. The test-optional rule does not cover English: non-native speakers still need an English test.
English requirements
| Test | UMD minimum for direct admission | Score that leads to the Maryland English Institute route |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT (0 to 120 scale) | 95 | 94 or lower |
| TOEFL iBT (new 1 to 6 scale) | 5 | 4.5 or lower |
| IELTS (including IELTS Indicator) | 7 | 6.5 or lower |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 | 115 or lower |
Scores must be less than two years old and sent straight from the testing agency (UMD’s code is 5814). TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted. Some admitted students must first complete coursework at the Maryland English Institute, and the decision letter says when that applies. UMD may waive the test if you completed four years at a US or US-accredited high school without English support classes, hold a US degree, or are a native English speaker who is a citizen of, or holds a school or university qualification from, a listed English-speaking country. Applicants educated in the French system still need a test.
University of Maryland deadlines for fall 2027
| Step | Early Action | Regular deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Application due | 1 November 2026 | 20 January 2027 |
| Decision for international applicants | By 1 February 2027 | Email when the decision is posted |
| Merit scholarship review | Early Action only | Not considered |
| Enrolment reply | 1 May 2027 | 1 May 2027 |
Early Action is non-binding. Applying for fall also puts you in the running for spring if fall is full. UMD says complete applications received after 20 January are reviewed only on a rolling, space-available basis.
Early Action closes 1 November 2026
For international applicants, Early Action is the safer route because it brings a decision by 1 February 2027, which leaves time for the visa process. Your English scores must arrive for the application to be complete.
How to write your UMD essay
UMD gives you seven prompts and one essay of up to 650 words, and it asks you to include the question at the top. The prompts cover a meaningful part of your background or identity, a setback, a time you challenged a belief, gratitude, personal growth, a topic you lose track of time in, and a free choice.
- Pick the prompt that fits your best story: do not choose the most impressive-sounding one.
- Keep the focus on your choices: the reader wants your thinking and actions more than the background.
- Give context once: a reviewer in Maryland may not know your country’s school system, so one sentence of explanation helps.
- Leave room for the ending: spend the last third on what changed and what you did next.
For illustration only, an answer to the “lose track of time” prompt might open: “The first time I opened a broken radio, I meant to spend ten minutes on it; my mother called me for dinner three times before I noticed it was dark.” The rest would show what the student learned to do with circuits and where they go to learn more.
What happens after you apply
- Check TAP: confirm your transcripts, recommendations and English scores have arrived.
- Decision: Early Action international applicants hear by 1 February 2027. Regular applicants get an email when the decision is posted.
- Possible Maryland English Institute condition: your letter will say if you must take MEI courses first.
- Confirm enrolment: by 1 May 2027.
- Financial certification: only after you confirm, you show resources for one year of tuition, fees, books, insurance and living costs, following the International Student and Scholar Services funding guidance.
- I-20 and visa: UMD issues the I-20, then you pay the SEVIS fee and attend your F-1 interview.
Common mistakes international applicants make
- Missing Early Action: regular applicants are not reviewed for merit awards and get later decisions, which squeezes visa time.
- Expecting a scholarship: UMD says it cannot give financial assistance to international students.
- Sending a 6.5 IELTS and expecting direct entry: UMD’s direct-admission minimum is 7; lower scores lead to the MEI route.
- Using a name that does not match your passport: this causes I-20 problems later.
- Forgetting the evaluation for college credits: any university study needs an ECE or JS&A course-by-course report.
- Choosing a Limited Enrollment major casually: these majors are more competitive than the overall admit rate, so pick one you can make a real case for.
Costs that aid does not cover
Because UMD gives no aid to international students, budget for every line yourself: the $125 per semester international fee, health insurance, the $3,375 differential charge if you will be a junior or senior in business, engineering or computer science, books, flights, SEVIS and visa fees, and housing during breaks if you cannot fly home. Costs normally rise each year, so plan for more than $65,520 in later years.
Majors and strengths
UMD offers 115 bachelor’s programmes, 126 master’s programmes and 89 doctoral programmes. Its strongest undergraduate areas in the U.S. News 2026 edition were computer science (with cybersecurity and artificial intelligence), engineering (aerospace, mechanical and computer engineering in particular), business (management information systems especially) and economics.
Campus and city
College Park is a suburb of Washington, DC, and the campus has its own Metro station on the Green Line, so the capital’s museums, government agencies and internships are a short train ride away. The campus is large, with more than 42,000 students in fall 2026.
University of Maryland graduate admissions for international students
Graduate programmes are run by the Graduate School and individual departments, each with its own deadlines and funding. The Graduate School’s general English minimums for full enrolment are:
- TOEFL iBT (tests on or before 20 January 2026): 96 total, with Reading 26, Listening 24, Speaking 22 and Writing 24.
- TOEFL iBT (new scale, from 21 January 2026): 5 overall, with section minimums of 5, 5, 4.5 and 5.
- IELTS Academic: 7 overall, with 7 in reading, listening and writing and 6.5 in speaking.
- PTE Academic: 68 total and 68 in writing.
- Exemptions: a degree earned in person in the US or a listed English-speaking country.
Programmes can set higher requirements. Graduate funding usually comes through department assistantships and fellowships, so contact the department you want early.
University of Maryland compared with other big public universities
| University | U.S. News 2027 (National Universities) | Aid for international undergraduates | Testing | Fall 2027 deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland | #49 | None; UMD says it cannot give international students financial assistance | Optional | EA 1 Nov 2026; 20 Jan 2027 |
| UW-Madison | #34 | King-Morgridge full award for six students a year | Optional | EA 1 Nov 2026; RD 15 Jan 2027 |
| Rutgers-New Brunswick | #44 | $5,000 to $16,000 a year, automatic | Optional | EA 1 Nov 2026; RD 1 Dec 2026 |
| Purdue | #55 | Merit awards for domestic students only | SAT, ACT or CLT expected | EA 1 Nov 2026; RD 15 Jan 2027 |
If you need funding, also read our MIT admission guide, since MIT meets full need for international students, and our Michigan State scholarships guide.
Who should apply to the University of Maryland
Apply if you want a strong public research university near Washington, DC, especially for computer science, engineering, business or policy, have a 7.0 IELTS or equivalent, and your family or sponsor can fund about $65,000 or more a year. Early Action gives you an early answer and keeps your visa timeline comfortable.
Skip UMD if you need any scholarship to attend. The university says it cannot provide financial assistance to international students, so an offer will not come with money attached. In that case, put your effort into universities that fund international students.
FAQ on University of Maryland admission for international students
What is the University of Maryland acceptance rate for international students?
UMD does not publish a separate international rate. The overall first-year acceptance rate for fall 2025 was 45.1%, with 30,282 admitted from 67,178 applications.
Does the University of Maryland give scholarships to international students?
No. UMD’s financial certification page says the university is unable to provide financial assistance to international students, and its merit awards are for US citizens and eligible non-citizens.
How much is University of Maryland tuition for international students?
Tuition is $42,266 for 2026-27, plus $1,820 in mandatory fees. The full on-campus budget is $65,520, and I-20 holders pay an extra $125 a semester.
What IELTS score does the University of Maryland require?
IELTS 7 for direct admission. Students with 6.5 or lower may be offered the Maryland English Institute route; TOEFL 95 and Duolingo 120 are the other main minimums.
Sources and updates
Application parts, deadlines, testing policy and the international checklist come from UMD Undergraduate Admissions, including its international applicants page, English proficiency page, essay questions page, freshman application FAQs, freshman merit scholarships page and financial certification page. The 2026-27 budget comes from the UMD Office of Student Financial Aid, and the differential charge from the University System of Maryland’s fiscal year 2027 tuition and fee schedule. Admission counts come from UMD Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment (Campus Counts and Fast Facts). Graduate English rules come from the UMD Graduate School. The 2027 ranking comes from Poets&Quants for Undergrads (September 2026) reporting the U.S. News Best Colleges 2027 edition; the 2026 edition figures come from UMD Right Now (23 September 2025). Checked on 29 October 2026.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
