Notable programs
BS Computer Science (Department of Computer Science)
Top-15 CS program nationally and a top-15 program globally per QS, with aggressive faculty hiring expansion over the past five years to keep pace with enrollment growth. Primary feeder into NSA, NASA Goddard, Google's DC office, Amazon HQ2 in Arlington, and federal contractors. Strong concentrations in machine learning, cybersecurity, systems, and theory. The 2024 expanded AI Initiative consolidated AI research across CS, the College of Information Studies, and UMIACS.
BS Aerospace Engineering (A. James Clark School of Engineering)
Top-15 globally for aerospace engineering, with structural NASA Goddard partnerships (15 minutes northeast in Greenbelt) providing direct internship, joint research, and capstone opportunities. The 2024 deepened NASA Goddard partnerships extend hands-on satellite, astrophysics, and Earth-observation research into the undergraduate curriculum. Strong placement into NASA, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and SpaceX.
BBA Smith School of Business
Top-25 BBA program with concentrations in finance, accounting, supply chain management, information systems, marketing, and management. Strong DC-area corporate recruiting (Capital One, T. Rowe Price, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC) and growing tech-business placement. Admission to Smith is separate from admission to UMD, which produces friction for students entering UMD undecided and later wanting BBA admission.
BA Journalism (Philip Merrill College of Journalism)
One of the strongest journalism schools nationally, with deep DC media ties to Washington Post, NPR, Politico, and Baltimore Sun. The Capital News Service operates as a working newsroom that produces content syndicated to major regional and national outlets. Strong placement into investigative journalism, broadcast news, and digital media organizations across the Mid-Atlantic and nationally.
BS Quantum Information Science (Joint Quantum Institute and Department of Physics)
One of the strongest undergraduate quantum information programs globally, anchored by the Joint Quantum Institute — a joint venture between Maryland and NIST in Gaithersburg. Direct undergraduate research access into quantum computing, atomic physics, and quantum networking labs. Strong placement into quantum computing PhD programs, NIST research positions, and quantum-focused industry firms (IonQ, IBM Quantum, Quantinuum, Microsoft Quantum).
BS Materials Science and Engineering (Clark School)
Top-15 globally for materials engineering, with strong faculty in nanomaterials, energy materials, and biomaterials. Direct research access through NIST Gaithersburg partnerships and the Maryland NanoCenter. Strong placement into materials research PhD programs and industry positions in semiconductors, energy storage, and advanced manufacturing.
MPP Maryland School of Public Policy
Strong MPP program with a public-policy analytics specialization that benefits from DC and federal-research proximity. Concentrations span energy and environmental policy, health policy, international development, and public sector financial management. Direct internship and capstone access into federal agencies, congressional offices, and DC think tanks.
Honors College
Admits roughly 600 incoming students annually and provides smaller seminar-style coursework, dedicated honors housing in Anne Arundel and Cumberland Halls, and structured undergraduate research access through the Honors Humanities, Honors Living-Learning, and Gemstone programs (a four-year team-based research thesis program). For students admitted to Honors, the teaching environment is materially closer to a small private LAC than to the standard Maryland public-flagship register.