umbc graduates celebrate at commencement

Why Choose UMBC?

You’ve got big dreams. We’ll help you achieve them. Our collaborative culture will challenge and support you to make big breakthroughs, and our top-ranked programs will prepare you for the next step in your academic or professional career.

A Top-Ranked Education

We’re ranked in the top 4% of universities worldwide.

US News National Public Universities 2025
US News Most Innovative 2025
US News Undergraduate Teaching 2025
US News Engineering Programs 2025
US News Best Value Schools 2025
Studio process of Fret & Focus project, a year of documenting worries using microscopic slides, 2016. Art by Melissa Penley Cormier.
View of a glass building in the evening. Lights are on inside while the sky gets dark.

UMBC Alumni Success

Why should you choose UMBC? Our alumni do incredible things.

UMBC prepared me for my future by enhancing my professional network and providing a space to interact with and learn from others of diverse background.

Author Role/Grad Year/Org

UMBC offered courses that used real-life examples and situations, and had experienced faculty who spoke about their own experiences in the field.

Author Role/Grad Year/Org

Group of seven adults standing outside together under a large tree in the spring and wearing graduation gowns and caps. Five of them are standing and two are kneeling on the grass.
Person records camel

Her UMBC Degree Took Her to a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Kimberly Patrick ’08
Music Technology

Lucasfilm’s Skywalker Sound

Kizzmekia Corbett stands in front of a colorful art installation in the new Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building on UMBC's campus.

At the Forefront of COVID-19 Vaccine Development

Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett ’08, M16
Biological Sciences and Sociology

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Chris Adams sitting in a chair in front of computer.

Blending Business and Sports

Chris Adams’ 15
Economics

SharpRank

Students in UMBC gear walk away from the carnival

Collaboration and Opportunity

“The professors at UMBC are awesome. They really care about you and they’ll help you to reach new levels.” – Poojan Shah

Portrait of Charissa Cheah

Cross-Cultural Researcher Advancing the Field of Child Development

Dr. Charissa Cheah
Professor of Psychology

Portrait of Dr. Michael Summers standing outside

Champion of Diversity in STEM & of HIV-1 Research

Dr. Michael Summers
Professor of Chemistry

86%

Of our classes have under 50 students.

#48

UMBC ranks 48th globally for faculty recognized for their research.

Young woman in professional attire stands next to a research poster

Undergraduate Research

UMBC offers a set of scholarship programs dedicated to helping undergraduate students define their futures through innovative approaches to study, mentorship, and support. Students are given an opportunity to showcase their work during URCAD–Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day– a day-long symposium featuring students’ mentored research, scholarship, and creative work.

Graduate Research

UMBC’s research environment is rich with opportunity to collaborate and innovate. UMBC has an annual research portfolio of about $75 million. We are rapidly growing successful partnerships with federal and state agencies, foundations, and the private sector to create a space where all UMBC researchers—including graduate students— can make a difference through their work.

The Graduate School, individual academic departments, and the Graduate Student Association provide support for graduate student research through assistantships, grants, and other initiatives.

Aerial view of a university campus, with many buildings and trees
A diverse group of students sitting at a table together, talking and studying.

UMBC at the Universities at Shady Grove

Programs at UMBC’s Shady Grove campus in Rockville, MD continue to expand and welcome students transferring in from other institutions.

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