Freshman Admission

Fall Semester Freshman Admission

The University of Maryland (UMD) strongly encourages all freshman applicants to apply by our November 1 early action deadline to ensure priority consideration for admission, merit scholarships and invitation to special programs. Admission to UMD is competitive. We typically receive over 58,000 applications for a fall freshman class of approximately 4,800. As a result, we are unable to offer admission to all students who have the ability to be academically successful at the university. A completed application includes the online application, official high school transcript(s), SAT or ACT scores (if the student indicates they would like their scores to be considered), essay, activities and awards list, school counselor and teacher recommendations and the application fee.

Applying by the November 1 early action deadline is encouraged. Please visit our undergraduate admissions website for updated deadline information.

Spring Semester Freshman Admission

Students may be admitted for the spring semester by applying directly for spring admission or by having their fall application identified for spring admission through the application review process (as a result of space limitations). A completed application includes the online application, official high school transcript(s), SAT or ACT scores (if the student indicates they would like their scores to be considered), essay and activities, school counselor and teacher recommendations and the application fee.

Please visit our undergraduate admissions website for updated deadline information.

Freshman Fall Admission Deadlines

• Early action deadline: November 1
• Regular deadline: January 20

Financial Aid Applications

The University of Maryland (UMD) priority deadline for submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is January 1. Students seeking need-based financial assistance can complete the FAFSA prior to submitting their admission application. The FAFSA can be submitted as early as October 1 when it becomes available online. More information is available in our FAFSA FAQs. 

Early Admission Options for High-Achieving High School Students

Concurrent Enrollment

Talented high school seniors have the opportunity to enroll at UMD for two courses, or seven credits, each semester. Successful applicants will have pursued a rigorous high school program and will have indicated exceptional performance and ability achieved over time. To apply, students must submit the completed concurrent enrollment application and fee, high school transcript(s) an essay explaining why they are interested in the program, a letter of recommendation from the high school and a letter of permission from the parents or guardians. Students must live within commuting distance. Tuition is assessed on a per-credit-hour basis. All mandatory fees apply in full.

Summer Enrollment

High school students with a strong high school record may be considered for enrollment in courses during the summer preceding their junior or senior year. They must file an application for admission and submit an official high school transcript. Tuition is assessed on a per-credit-hour basis. All mandatory fees apply in full. For more information, students should visit the Extended Studies website.

Early Admission

Although UMD generally requires applicants to earn a high school diploma prior to their first full-time registration, the university will admit a limited number of well-qualified students without high school diplomas. Successful applicants will have pursued a rigorous high school program and will have indicated exceptional performance and ability achieved over time. Students must be within two credits of high school graduation and have the commitment of the high school to award a diploma after successful completion of the freshman year at UMD. To apply, students must submit the completed application and fee, high school transcript(s), SAT or ACT results (if the student indicates they would like their scores to be considered), an essay explaining how they will benefit from the program, a letter of permission from the parents or guardians and a letter of support from the high school which details the school's agreement to award the high school diploma. Early admission students are eligible for on-campus housing, scholarships based on academic achievement, the Honors College, College Park Scholars and other living-learning programs. Early application is strongly advised.

High School Equivalency Examination (GED)

Maryland residents who are at least 16 years of age and who have not received a high school diploma may be considered for admission provided they have earned the high school General Education Equivalency (GED) certificate. In order to be considered for admission, the applicant must submit a completed application (including SAT scores if the applicant has been out of high school for less than three years and chooses to submit them) and present an above average total score as well as above average scores on each of the five parts of the test.

Non-Accredited/Non-Approved High School

Students from non-accredited/non-approved high schools who seek admission to the University of Maryland should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for additional information.

Home-Schooled Students

Home-schooled applicants should meet the same minimum high school course requirements expected of all applicants. Additional information from home-schooled students is required in the following areas of the application:

Transcript: The transcript(s) should provide course descriptions, books used, methods of evaluation and the grades received, as well as a statement providing general information about the home-school curriculum. If college-level courses have been taken simultaneously, an official college transcript should be included with the application.

Letters of Recommendation: UMD requires two recommendations from all freshman applicants. In the case of home-schooled students, these recommendations should be provided by:

• an individual acting in a supervisory or evaluative capacity with regard to the student's curriculum and
• a teacher in any setting (home-school program, community college course, etc.).

Prior Learning Credit

UMD awards credit for Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Level (A-Level)/Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS-Level) exams when an appropriate score has been achieved. It is important to note that not all exams are awarded credit. All UMD departments reserve the right to re-evaluate the content of exams and to change the assignment of credit and course equivalencies. There are other types of college-level exams that may be awarded credit on a case-by-case basis. These include the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam (CAPE) or Abitur. For additional information on the transferability of these exams, please see the Prior Learning Credit section of this catalog.