University of Maryland, College Park

University of Maryland, College Park is a public institution that was founded in 1856. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 30,353 (fall 2022), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 1,340 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Maryland, College Park's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #46. Its in-state tuition and fees are $11,505; out-of-state tuition and fees are $40,306.

Located between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, the University of Maryland offers students a suburban lifestyle within easy reach of big-city experiences. The flagship campus in College Park, which has its own subway stop on the D.C.-area Metro transit system, is close to the nation's capital. There are more than 800 clubs and organizations on campus, including nearly 60 fraternities and sororities. Freshmen and all other students are not required to live on campus. Students looking for additional activities can visit the university's "SEE UMD" website, which stands for "Student Entertainment Events" and offers movie screenings, comedy shows, lectures and more. Sports also offer yearlong distractions. The Maryland Terrapins compete in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. The mascot, Testudo, is a Diamondback terrapin — a species of turtle that is the official state reptile. One of several Testudo sculptures on campus sits in front of McKeldin Library, and rubbing its nose is thought to bring good luck, particularly before exams.

The University of Maryland has a highly ranked graduate program in education and the noted A. James Clark School of Engineering, as well as well-regarded offerings through the Robert H. Smith School of Business. The university regularly earns accolades for its sustainable and clean energy initiatives, such as its plan to be carbon neutral by 2050 and campus-wide efforts to compost dining hall waste. Famous Maryland alumni span the professional spectrum and include NASA scientist Charles Bennett, broadcast journalist Connie Chung and "Sesame Street" and "The Muppet Show" creator Jim Henson.