The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship public research university, just outside Washington, DC. It is best known for computer science, engineering, business and public policy, with close ties to NASA, NIH and federal agencies. Choose it for a top public degree next to the US capital's job market.
College Park, United States
Official website: umd.edu
#158
Top 20 (U.S. News)
Top 20 in the US (U.S. News)
Member
$30,000 – $43,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$16,000 – $22,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on umd.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 96
MS Data Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 96
MS Business Analytics
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
MS Electrical & Computer Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 96
Master of Public Policy
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
Computer science — one of the largest and highest-ranked departments in the US.
Ten miles from Washington, DC — NASA Goddard, NIH and NIST are research partners.
Discovery District — a campus innovation hub with startups and federal contractors.
Robert H. Smith School of Business — AACSB-accredited, strong in analytics and finance.
Graduates join Amazon, Microsoft, Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, NASA and federal agencies.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Computer science bachelor's graduates report median starting salaries above USD 90,000.
Public policy alumni work in Congress, think tanks, the World Bank and NGOs across DC.
Undergrad
20 Jan 2027
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The campus is a large, red-brick site centred on McKeldin Mall, with its own Metro station and a growing innovation district along Route 1.
College Park is a suburb of Washington, DC, 30 minutes from downtown by Metro. Rent is high for a college town, but internships and part-time jobs in the capital are plentiful.
Form I-20 issued by the University of Maryland
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
For fall 2027 undergraduate entry, Early Action closes 1 November 2026 and Regular Decision closes 20 January 2027. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme: computer science and most engineering master's close around 15 December to 15 January, and Smith's business master's run rounds into spring.
Undergraduates start in the fall (late August). Many computer science and engineering master's programmes also admit for spring (January), while data science, business analytics and public policy are fall only. Check your programme's page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. International Student and Scholar Services issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, data science, business analytics, electrical and computer engineering and public policy attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 96-100 or IELTS 7.0, and the GRE for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is holistic, with an acceptance rate around 45%.
Maryland offers limited merit scholarships to international undergraduates, considered automatically if you apply by the Early Action deadline; need-based aid is not available. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which waive tuition and pay a stipend in many science and engineering departments.
