The Maryland Smith MBA is the full-time MBA at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business in College Park, just outside Washington, D.C. U.S. News ranks it No. 43 in its 2026 list. From fall 2026 the programme is 48 credits and charges the same per-credit tuition to residents and non-residents, so an international student pays about $42,228 a year in tuition. Every Smith MBA degree conferred since May 2023 is STEM-designated, and Poets&Quants reports a 37.2% acceptance rate for fall 2025.
For the class starting in August 2027, the international scholarship priority deadline is 15 December 2026, and that is your Deadline. There is also a round on 1 November 2026, and the final international deadline is 12 March 2027. This guide covers the Maryland Smith MBA requirements for international students, the GMAT waiver, the essay, the interview, costs, scholarships and Class of 2025 salaries.
Maryland Smith MBA at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Programme | Two-Year Full-Time MBA, College Park (a One-Year MBA starting in summer also exists) |
| U.S. News rank | No. 43, 2026 Best Business Schools (released April 2026), tied with Michigan State and Tennessee |
| Acceptance rate (fall 2025 entry) | 37.2% (Poets&Quants, from U.S. News data) |
| GMAT Focus range | 55th to 72nd percentile |
| Average GPA | 3.25 |
| Average work experience | 6 years |
| Credits | 48 |
| Tuition, fall 2026 | $1,759.50 per credit, same for residents and non-residents |
| Estimated yearly tuition and fees | $44,454, plus $125 a semester international fee |
| Application fee | $90 |
| STEM | Yes, for degrees conferred from May 2023 |
| Median base salary (Class of 2025) | $125,000 |
Maryland Smith MBA ranking
U.S. News placed Smith at No. 43 among full-time MBA programmes in its 2026 Best Business Schools ranking, released on 7 April 2026, in a tie with Michigan State Broad and Tennessee Haslam. For many applicants the location matters as much as the rank. College Park is on the Washington Metro, close to federal agencies, consulting firms, banks and technology employers in the D.C. region.
Maryland Smith MBA acceptance rate and class profile
Smith does not publish an acceptance rate. Poets&Quants, using data schools report to U.S. News, gives these figures:
| Intake | Acceptance rate | Yield |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | 37.2% | 19.5% |
| Fall 2024 | 33.0% | 36.2% |
| Fall 2023 | 34.0% | 31.3% |
About a third of applicants get in. The yield fell to under 20% in 2025, meaning four out of five admitted students went elsewhere. That gives strong applicants some room to compare scholarship offers.
| Smith full-time MBA profile | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average professional experience | 6 years |
| Average undergraduate GPA | 3.25 |
| GMAT Focus percentile range | 55th to 72nd |
| Class size | Not published on the admissions page |
| International share | Not published on the admissions page |
| Class of 2025 graduates | 51 |
Smith shows these student averages on its admissions page without naming the class year. It gives a percentile range rather than an average GMAT score, and it does not publish class size or the share of international students there. The Class of 2025 employment report counts 51 graduates.
Maryland Smith MBA requirements for international students
- Scanned official transcripts from every institution you attended, with your diploma if the transcript does not show the degree, and English translations of non-English documents. Smith does not accept third-party transcript evaluations.
- A resume, usually one page; two pages are acceptable.
- Work experience: competitive candidates usually have five or more years after their first degree.
- Proof of quantitative ability through a B or better in quantitative courses, quantitative work, or test scores. Some admitted students are asked to take a course such as calculus before starting.
- Two recommendations, preferably from current or former supervisors.
- One required essay and an optional essay.
- GMAT or GRE scores, unless you receive a waiver.
- TOEFL, IELTS or PTE if your native language is not English.
- The $90 non-refundable application fee, paid by credit card.
GMAT and GRE waiver
Smith requires the GMAT or GRE unless you qualify for a waiver by meeting one of two conditions:
- A GPA of at least 3.4 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent, in a quantitative undergraduate degree; or
- At least 24 months of relevant work experience after your undergraduate degree.
You do not file a separate request. Smith reviews waiver eligibility automatically after you submit, and answers within ten business days. With an average of six years of experience in the class, most applicants meet the work condition. The GMAT code is SQT-N8-23 and the GRE code is 5814.
I would still test if your degree was not quantitative or your grades were below a B in maths subjects, because the committee wants to see you can handle the quantitative core, and some admits are asked to take calculus first.
English requirements
| Test | University of Maryland Graduate School minimum |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 96 |
| IELTS Academic | 7.0 |
| PTE Academic | 68 |
These are the Graduate School’s minimums for full enrolment; programmes may set higher ones. TOEFL scores are valid for two years. You are exempt if your undergraduate or graduate degree is from a qualifying institution in an English-speaking country on the Graduate School’s list. Check that list before you book a test, because some English-medium countries are on it and others are not.
Maryland Smith MBA deadlines 2026-2027
These are the dates for the Two-Year Full-Time MBA starting in August 2027:
| Date | What it is |
|---|---|
| 1 October 2026 (closed) | Application round |
| 1 November 2026 | Application round |
| 15 December 2026 | Scholarship priority deadline for international applicants |
| 15 January 2027 | Scholarship priority deadline for domestic applicants |
| 12 March 2027 | Final deadline for international applicants |
| 15 April 2027 | Final deadline for domestic applicants; rolling review after this |
Decisions usually arrive three to six weeks after a complete application. Admitted students pay a $1,000 deposit within four weeks and a second $1,000 within eight weeks. One section of Smith’s page gives 15 March 2027 as the date international applications must be complete, which conflicts with 12 March; use the earlier date.
For international applicants
Apply by 15 December 2026. After that date you can still be admitted, but merit awards are given to later applicants only if funds remain, and you will have less time for the I-20 and visa.
How to apply, step by step
- Check the waiver: See whether you have 24 months of relevant work or a 3.4 GPA in a quantitative degree.
- Book tests if needed: GMAT or GRE, and TOEFL 96, IELTS 7.0 or PTE 68.
- Scan transcripts and diplomas with English translations; skip the paid evaluation.
- Prepare your resume with numbers for each achievement.
- Brief two supervisors as recommenders.
- Write the 300-word essay and an optional essay if needed.
- Submit on the Graduate Application portal and pay $90 by 15 December 2026.
- Interview within a few days of being invited.
- After admission: Pay the two $1,000 deposits and show funding for the first year to get your I-20.
Maryland Smith MBA essays 2026-2027
| Essay | Prompt | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Required | How will this program help you achieve your professional endeavors? | 300 words |
| Optional | Anything additional about your candidacy | No limit stated |
| Reapplicant | A required reapplication essay in addition to the main essay | Not published |
Smith’s own pages do not print the prompt; the wording above is from Clear Admit’s 2026-2027 essay analysis, so check it in the application.
How to answer the 300-word essay
Three hundred words leaves room for one goal, one reason and one plan. Start with your goal in a sentence: the job and the kind of employer. Next, name the skill or network you lack. Then link it to Smith: an elective focus such as AI and business strategy, finance or marketing, the D.C. employer base, or the STEM designation if you need OPT time. Leave out your life story; the resume and recommendations carry that.
For illustration: “I want to lead pricing analytics for a consumer goods company in the D.C. region, and after five years running sales reports in Accra I know the data side but not the strategy.”
The optional essay
Use it to explain a low GPA, a gap in employment or a grading system the committee may not recognise. Keep it short and factual.
The Maryland Smith interview
Interviews are by invitation after the committee reviews your complete application. Admissions staff and Smith alumni conduct them, in person or online. Smith asks you to schedule within a few days of the invitation, and candidates who do not interview will not receive an offer. Prepare a clear story of your career, your goal and why Smith, plus two examples of leading a team.
What the admissions committee looks for
- Solid work experience; competitive candidates usually have at least five years.
- Quantitative readiness from grades, work or a test score.
- A goal that fits Smith’s hiring base in financial services, technology, consumer goods and healthcare.
- Recommenders who have managed you directly.
- Readiness to interview quickly once invited.
Maryland Smith MBA tuition and fees 2026-27
Smith cut the full-time MBA to 48 credits from fall 2026 and charges residents and non-residents the same rate. Its admissions page gives this estimate for one year:
| Item (fall 2026 entry) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition per credit | $1,759.50 |
| Typical credits per year | 24 |
| Tuition per year | $42,228 |
| MBA Association fee (one time, fall) | $750 |
| University mandatory fee | $738 a semester |
| Estimated total per year | $44,454 |
| International student fee | $125 a semester (not in the total) |
| Tuition for 48 credits (my calculation) | $84,456 |
Smith does not publish a living-cost budget on these pages. You will need to show funding for the first year’s tuition, fees, housing and miscellaneous costs to get your I-20, so ask the admissions office for the figure it uses.
Costs not covered
- Housing and food near College Park and Washington, D.C.
- Student health insurance: you are enrolled automatically and billed unless you file a waiver with an accepted plan by the deadline.
- The $125 international fee each semester.
- The two $1,000 deposits, due before the I-20 process.
- Flights, the SEVIS fee and the visa fee.
Maryland Smith MBA scholarships for international students
All applicants are considered automatically for Smith scholarships and awards, and Smith says its most competitive candidates may receive full funding. Merit awards come as scholarships or graduate assistantships, are based on undergraduate record and work experience, and arrive with the admission offer. International applicants should submit by 15 December 2026 for priority.
| Award | Who it is for | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Merit Awards | All applicants, including international | Up to full funding for top candidates |
| Graduate assistantships | Awarded as part of merit funding | Not published |
| Double Terp Award | University of Maryland, College Park graduates | $10,000 |
| Veteran Leadership Fellow | Veterans with limited education benefits | Not published |
| Military Leadership Scholar | Active-duty members and veterans without education benefits | Up to 100% of tuition |
Smith’s FAQ encourages only U.S. citizens and permanent residents to apply for loans, and it does not name Prodigy Finance, MPOWER or any loan without a U.S. co-signer. For outside funding, see our list of American scholarships for international students.
STEM designation and OPT
Smith says all its MBA degrees conferred from May 2023 onward carry the STEM designation. There are no official concentrations; you can focus electives on AI and business strategy, entrepreneurship and innovation, finance, marketing or sustainability, and the focus does not appear on your diploma. For F-1 students, the STEM designation means you can apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension after the first 12 months of OPT.
Maryland Smith MBA salary and employment
Smith’s Full-Time MBA report for the Class of 2025 covers 51 graduates, 44 of whom were seeking work:
- About 79% accepted a job within three months: 79% of U.S. graduates and 76% of international graduates.
- Median base salary $125,000; mean $119,175 (47% of hires reported salary).
- Median signing bonus $25,000.
- Industries: financial services 20.6%, technology 20.6%, consumer packaged goods 14.7%, healthcare and pharmaceuticals 11.8%.
- Functions: marketing and sales 32.4%, finance 29.4%, operations and logistics 20.6%, consulting 8.8%.
- Employers from 2023 to 2025 include Amazon, Chewy, Citi, Deloitte, EY, FedEx, IBM, JPMorgan Chase, M&T Bank, Microsoft and Navy Federal Credit Union.
The gap between U.S. and international placement is small, which is a good sign for F-1 students, though the salary sample is small too. About 94% of hires were in North America.
Common mistakes international applicants make
- Paying for a WES or ECE evaluation that Smith does not accept.
- Assuming the GMAT is optional for everyone; it is waived only if you meet one of the two conditions.
- Applying after 15 December 2026 and losing scholarship priority.
- Using the 300-word essay to retell the resume.
- Delaying the interview after an invitation.
- Forgetting the health insurance waiver deadline and being billed.
Who should apply to Maryland Smith, and who shouldn’t
Apply if you have several years of experience, want a STEM MBA near Washington, D.C., and want lower tuition than most private schools in the region. The equal resident and non-resident rate makes Smith one of the cheaper top-50 MBAs for international students.
Think twice if you have less than two years of work and no test score, or if you want a large class with heavy on-campus recruiting from investment banks. Check living costs in the D.C. area carefully before you commit.
Maryland Smith vs peer MBA programmes
| School | U.S. News 2026 | Avg GMAT | Tuition or cost | International | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland Smith | No. 43 (tie) | Not published (55th to 72nd percentile) | $42,228 a year tuition, same for all, fall 2026 | Not published | 15 December 2026 (international priority) |
| Georgetown McDonough | No. 31 | 713; Focus 626 (2026 entrants) | $75,016 first-year tuition, 2026-27 | 44% | 6 January 2027 |
| UNC Kenan-Flagler | No. 21 | 652 (Class of 2027) | $74,192 nonresident with mandatory fees, 2026-27 | 35% | 6 January 2027 (Round 2) |
| Rochester Simon | No. 34 | 675; Focus 625 (Class of 2027) | $60,000 a year tuition, 2026-27 | Not published | 5 January 2027 |
| Michigan State Broad | No. 43 (tie) | 604 GMAT Focus (Class of 2027) | $58,276 tuition; $90,427 total for international students, 2026-27 | 30% (three-year average) | 11 January 2027 (Round 2) |
For undergraduate study at the same university, see our University of Maryland admission requirements for international students.
FAQ
What is the Maryland Smith MBA acceptance rate?
Poets&Quants, using U.S. News data, reports a 37.2% acceptance rate for the fall 2025 intake, compared with 33.0% in 2024. Smith does not publish the figure itself.
Can I get a GMAT waiver for the Maryland Smith MBA?
Yes, if you have at least 24 months of relevant work after your degree or a 3.4 GPA in a quantitative degree. Smith checks eligibility automatically after you apply and replies within ten business days.
How much is Maryland Smith MBA tuition for international students?
For fall 2026 entrants, tuition is $1,759.50 per credit for everyone, about $42,228 a year, or $44,454 with fees. Add the $125 international fee each semester and living costs.
What is the Maryland Smith MBA deadline for international students?
The Deadline is 15 December 2026, the international scholarship priority date. The final international deadline is 12 March 2027.
Sources and updates
Deadlines, requirements, the GMAT waiver, the English minimums, the fee, class averages, fall 2026 tuition and scholarships are from Smith’s Full-Time MBA admissions page. Interview rules and loan guidance are from the Full-Time MBA FAQ. Mandatory fees, the international fee and health insurance rules are from Smith’s 2026-2027 tuition and fees page for the Full-Time MBA. STEM status and elective focus areas are from the Full-Time MBA curriculum page. Employment data are from the Full-Time MBA employment report for the Class of 2025. The essay prompt is from Clear Admit’s UMD Smith essay topic analysis for 2026-2027. Acceptance rates and yield are from Poets&Quants’ August 2026 article on acceptance rates, yield and applications at the top 100 U.S. MBA programmes. The ranking is from U.S. News 2026 Best Business Schools (full-time MBA), released on 7 April 2026, as tabulated by Poets&Quants. Checked on 29 October 2026.
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