Transfer Students: Maryland University's Acceptance Rates Revealed

The University of Maryland (UMD) is a competitive school for transfer applicants, with a transfer acceptance rate of 56.82% as of 2019. The university offers guaranteed admission pathways for students at participating community colleges, such as the Maryland Transfer Advantage Program (MTAP). While the exact number of transfer students accepted is unclear, transfer students make up 31.0% of the entire student body at UMD.

University of Maryland's transfer acceptance rate

The University of Maryland (UMD) is a competitive school for prospective transfer students. In 2019, UMD received 5683 transfer applicants, of which 3229 were accepted, giving the school a transfer acceptance rate of 56.82%. This data is current as of 2019, and the rate may have changed since then.

UMD defines transfer students as high school graduates who have completed at least 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours at a regionally accredited college or university. The university recommends that prospective transfer students have completed English Composition (the equivalent of UMD's ENGL101 course) and college-level mathematics (the equivalent of UMD's MATH107 course or equivalent to the general education fundamental mathematics requirement). UMD also requires a minimum college GPA of 3.0 on a 4.33 point scale and a minimum high school GPA of 3.9.

UMD offers a guaranteed admission pathway for students at participating community colleges through its Maryland Transfer Advantage Program (MTAP). Students in the MTAP program can take discounted courses at UMD before officially transferring and have access to transfer advising resources. The university also has articulated transfer programs with each Maryland public community college, which are lists of courses that best prepare applicants for a particular course of study at UMD.

Transfer application requirements

Transfer students play a pivotal role at the University of Maryland (UMD), bringing unique perspectives from their college studies, as well as a diversity of backgrounds, geographic origins, and personal experiences.

To apply as a transfer student, you must be a high school graduate who has completed at least 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours at a regionally accredited college or university after high school graduation. If you are in the process of completing these 12 credits, you should email the university for guidance on how to complete your application.

You are also expected to have completed English Composition (the equivalent of UMD's ENGL 101 course) and college-level mathematics (the equivalent of UMD's Math 107 course or equivalent to the general education fundamental mathematics requirement).

The University of Maryland's application platform is ApplyWeb. The transfer application can be submitted online via ApplyWeb, and you will be required to submit the following:

• An essay
• An activities and awards list or resume
• A non-refundable application fee of $75
• Official copies of your college transcripts
• Official copies of your high school transcripts (if you have completed fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter hours post-high school graduation)
• Official standardized test scores (optional)
• A letter of recommendation (optional)
• School of Music application (School of Music applicants only)

It is important to note that AP/IB credits and placement tests cannot be used toward the overall 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours.

The University of Maryland is highly competitive, and admission is based on the overall strength of the student's academic performance, which is assessed through a holistic review. The number of students seeking admission often exceeds the number that can be accommodated.

Maryland Transfer Advantage Program (MTAP)

The Maryland Transfer Advantage Program (MTAP) provides a guaranteed admission pathway for students at participating community colleges to earn a bachelor's degree at UMD. Students who participate in MTAP have access to transfer advising resources and can take discounted courses at UMD before officially transferring.

Scholarships for Transfer Students

The University of Maryland offers the following scholarships to transfer students:

• The Frederick Douglass Scholarship
• The Maryland Transfer Scholarship

Transfer application deadlines

Deadlines

The University of Maryland (UMD) has a competitive admissions process for transfer students. The application deadlines for transfer students are as follows:

• Fall Application Deadlines:
• March 1 (Early Action)
• June 1 (Regular)
• Spring Application Deadlines:
• August 1 (Early Action)
• November 15 (Regular)

It is important to note that admission to UMD is based on a holistic review of the student's academic performance and the overall strength of their application. The number of applicants often exceeds the number of available spaces, and certain applicants from Maryland public institutions are given special consideration.

Requirements

To be considered a transfer applicant, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a high school graduate or have completed a high school equivalency program.
• Have completed at least 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours at a regionally accredited college or university after high school graduation.
• Have completed English Composition (equivalent to UMD's ENGL 101 course) and college-level mathematics (equivalent to UMD's Math 107 course or the general education fundamental mathematics requirement).

Additionally, if you have completed fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter hours after high school graduation, you will need to submit your high school records and standardized test scores (optional) for review.

Transfer Credits

UMD accepts transfer credits from previous college-level courses. The maximum number of transfer credits that can be applied towards degree requirements at UMD are:

• 70 credits from a 2-year institution
• 90 credits from a 4-year institution or any combination of 4-year institutions and/or prior learning credits

Application Process

The transfer application process at UMD is as follows:

• Submit the online application via the ApplyWeb platform.
• Pay the nonrefundable application fee of $75 (unless a fee waiver is approved).
• Submit official copies of your college transcripts from each institution attended.
• If you have completed fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter hours after high school graduation, submit an official copy of your high school transcripts.
• Submit official standardized test scores (optional).
• Submit a letter of recommendation (optional).

Benefits of Applying Early

UMD strongly encourages transfer students to apply early to receive priority consideration for admission and merit-based scholarships. Completing your application by the early action deadline increases your chances of being admitted and receiving scholarship opportunities.

Transferring from a Maryland public institution

UMD has a dedicated pre-transfer advisor to help students plan their transfer path. Current students can apply to the Maryland Transfer Advantage Program (MTAP) for additional savings on UMD tuition. MTAP provides a guaranteed admission pathway for students at participating community colleges to earn a bachelor's degree at UMD. Students who participate in MTAP have access to transfer advising resources and can take discounted courses at UMD before officially transferring.

To be considered a transfer applicant, you must have graduated from high school or have completed high school equivalency. You must also complete at least 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours at a regionally accredited college or university. If you are in the process of completing these credits, you should email UMD for guidance on how to complete your application.

UMD requires the following for transfer applications:

• Completed online application
• Essay
• Activities and awards list or resume
• Nonrefundable application fee of $75
• Official copy of your college transcripts
• Official copy of your high school transcripts (if you have completed fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter hours post-high school graduation)
• Official standardized test scores (optional)
• Letter of recommendation (optional)
• School of Music application (School of Music applicants only)

UMD accepts college-level courses completed at regionally-accredited institutions with a grade of "C-" or higher. Transfer courses from non-regionally accredited institutions in the United States will be reviewed for acceptability on an individual basis. Transfer courses from international institutions that are not recognized by the country's Ministry of Education are not accepted for transfer.

Transferring from a non-Maryland public institution

Transferring to the University of Maryland as a student from a non-Maryland public institution is a competitive process. The University of Maryland (UMD) accepts 31% of its entire student body as transfer students, with a transfer acceptance rate of 56.82%.

UMD has a holistic admissions process, and applicants are assessed based on the overall strength of their academic performance. Certain applicants from Maryland public institutions are given special consideration and are admitted when space is available.

To be considered a transfer applicant, you must have graduated from high school or have completed a high school equivalency program. Additionally, you must have completed at least 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours at a regionally accredited college or university. AP/IB credits or placement tests cannot be used toward this requirement.

As part of the application process, you will be required to submit the following:

• A completed online application
• An essay or personal statement
• A non-refundable application fee of $75 (fee waivers are available)
• Official college transcripts from each institution attended
• Official high school transcripts (if you have completed fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter hours post-high school graduation)
• Standardized test scores (optional)
• Letter of recommendation (optional)

It is important to note that UMD is currently test-optional for the Spring and Fall 2025 application cycles, so you can choose whether or not to include test scores in your application.

UMD also offers a Maryland Transfer Advantage Program (MTAP), which provides a guaranteed admission pathway for students at participating community colleges to earn a bachelor's degree at UMD. Students in the MTAP have access to transfer advising resources and can take discounted courses at UMD before officially transferring.

Frequently asked questions