UMBC's Albin O. Kuhn Library building against a blue sky. (About UMBC)

About UMBC

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is a top-ranked national university with an inclusive culture that connects innovative teaching and learning, research across disciplines, and civic engagement. Whatever your passion, at UMBC you’ll find a program that challenges and excites you and a community that supports you.

US News National Public Universities 2025
US News Most Innovative 2025

Who is UMBC?

According to the Princeton Review, our students say “UMBC is a place where it’s cool to be smart.”

At UMBC, we are connected by a shared sense of mission and vision. We combine grit and supportive community to reach excellence across the board — in the classroom, the lab, and the concert hall; on stage and on the court.

We value each other as whole people, and we come together to learn, solve problems, create new things, and just have fun.

UMBC is an institution that fosters community and diversity, and students can find support anywhere.

Janerra Allen, M.S. '22

Electrical Engineering

Cost of Attendance

View an estimate for tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, personal and miscellaneous expenses as well as loan fees.

Calendars

Current and future term dates, and deadlines for UMBC undergraduate and graduate students.

Visit UMBC

UMBC’s main campus is located between Baltimore, MD and Washington, D.C., and UMBC at the Universities at Shady Grove is located in Montgomery County.

The Latest

What's new at UMBC? Read stories and learn about events from around every corner of campus.

UMBC arial view blurred with the words "The College Tour" and a YouTube play button overlayed.

See UMBC Through Our Students’ Eyes

Get a virtual tour of UMBC like no other — through the personal experiences of our own students on UMBC’s episode of The College Tour.

UMBC Student Body Facts & Figures

Overall UMBC
Student Population

Fall 2024 Enrollment: 13,906
Minority Enrollment: 56%
Undergraduate: 10,767 / Graduate: 3,139
Full-time: 11,523 / Part-time: 2,625
6,382 Women / 7,524 Men

2024 First-Time
First-Year Class

Total First-Year Enrollment: 2,241
Average GPA: 4.13
Average SAT Score: 1324
Average ACT Composite Score: 28
44% Women / 56% Men

Graduate students celebrating in their caps and gowns.

We believe that public colleges and universities are obligated to help end inequity and to promote social justice.

UMBC is committed to promoting social justice and taking action to address inequities on our own campus in a number of important ways, including the work being done by the Office of Equity and Inclusion.

UMBC is the nation’s #1 producer of Black undergraduates who go on to complete a Ph.D. in the natural sciences or engineering and #1 for Black undergraduates who complete an M.D./Ph.D.

Fall 2023
Instructional Faculty

569 Full-time
380 Part-time

UMBC Faculty Profile

Collaboration isn’t just a buzz word here — it’s a way of life among our faculty and students. That means you could work with the best: UMBC ranks 48th globally for faculty recognized for their research.

UMBC’s Size is Just Right

Young and dynamic, UMBC is small enough to provide personal attention, yet large enough to provide a rich and diverse experience.

By the Numbers

86% of our classes have under 50 students.
The student to faculty ratio is 17:1.

Is UMBC a Good School?

Top ranking publications say yes.

A drone image shows UMBC's campus from above, highlighting the curved entrance paths leading to Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena.

Times Higher Education has recognized UMBC as one of the top universities in the U.S. and the world, as well as a global leader in social and economic impact.

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At the Academic Success Center, two women in the foreground are speaking to each other while looking at a pamphlet. Behind them, someone is walking by, and a young man is working at the front desk.

The 2023-24 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings name UMBC a leading U.S. university: #12 top university for undergraduate teaching, among other accolades.

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UMBC's bwtech sign.

UMBC is a Doctoral University with Very High Research Activity (R1), reaching the Carnegie Classification’s highest level of research performance.

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Students hanging out together, outside under decorative stone arches.

Princeton Review, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Forbes, Money, and the Fiske Guide to
Colleges
have all named UMBC as “Best Value School.”

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Learn more about the latest UMBC Rankings News

UMBC is a great place to…

Research

According to NSF, UMBC ranks among the country’s top 100 public universities in federal research support, #15 in NASA funding and #30 in federal funding for the social sciences.

Learn

The latest U.S. News Best Graduate Schools rankings include several UMBC graduate programs as among the best in the nation, and ranked UMBC at #12 in the nation for undergraduate teaching.

Work

The Chronicle of Higher Education has named UMBC one of the best colleges to work for, 14 years in a row.

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USM Logo with Maryland flag shield icon

UMBC is a member of the University System of Maryland

University Innovation Alliance logo

UMBC is a member of the University Innovation Alliance