The University of Maryland at College Park

The University of Maryland at College Park (UMD) is a four-year, public university in College Park, Maryland. Spanning 12 schools and colleges, Maryland offers more than 200 degree-granting programs.

The University of Maryland at College Park Veteran and Military Support Programs

UMD offers the following veteran and military support programs:

• The University of Maryland is a GI Bill® approved school
• Has a Student Veterans of America chapter
• Offers credit for military experience
• Awards credit for the CLEP exam, but not the DSST exam
• Approved for Tuition Assistance
• The University of Maryland is a Yellow Ribbon school
• The University of Maryland is a MyCAA approved school.

About The University of Maryland at College Park

The University of Maryland at College Park is one of the nation’s preeminent public research universities. They are home to more than 41,000 students and a little over half an hour from Downtown Washington DC. They are also committed to social entrepreneurship as the nation’s first “Do Good” campus.

They offer 127 undergraduate degrees and 112 graduate degrees in 13 colleges and schools. They were ranked as tied for the 58th position in the 2021 U.S. News & World Report Rankings of “National Universities.”

Message from The University of Maryland at College Park

The University of Maryland recognizes the extraordinary contributions of members of our armed services and we understand the unique challenges of transitioning into a university environment. We are committed to providing an environment that helps veterans pursue their academic and personal goals, explore different learning experiences, and get involved in campus life. Through Veteran Student Life, we offer a hub for resources that can serve veterans who are students, staff, or faculty on campus.

History of the University of Maryland at College Park

In 1856, the Maryland Agricultural College, which was the forerunner of the University of Maryland, was chartered. A year later, 428 acres of Charles Benedict Calvert’s Rossburg Farm was selected as a site for the new college. 34 students enrolled in 1859.

In 1894, the College of Engineering was founded, and in 1898, Morrill Hall was built, which is now the oldest building still standing on campus. In 1912, a fire at the Thanksgiving Day dance destroyed the dormitory rooms, half of the classrooms and offices, as well as college records.

In 1913, the first fraternity was established, Gamma Pi, and in 1916, the state took full control over the college and changed the name to the Maryland State College of Agriculture. The first woman student was also enrolled.

In 1917, Albert F. Woods was named President and created 7 schools, agriculture, engineering and mechanical arts, liberal arts, chemistry, education, home economics, and the graduate school.

In 1920, the College Park and Baltimore campuses were consolidated, and the graduate school awarded its first Ph.D. Enrollment was now up to 522, with 22 women. Then, in 1921, the Colleges of Arts and Sciences was founded and in 1925, accreditation was granted by the Association of American Universities.

In 1946, with the new GI Bill, enrollment doubled to nearly 10,000 students, and in 1951, the first African-American student enrolled. In 1988, the five University of Maryland campuses were reorganized on July 1st to form the University of Maryland College System, with College Park as the flagship university.