The University of Maryland, Baltimore County is a public research university between Baltimore and Washington, DC. It is best known for computer science, cyber security, engineering and the sciences, with a national reputation for undergraduate teaching and for sending graduates into nearby federal agencies. Choose it for a technology degree at public-university cost in the US cyber security capital.
Baltimore, United States
Official website: umbc.edu
#771
Top 10 in the US (U.S. News, several years)
R1 — very high research activity
National Security Agency centre of academic excellence, 20 minutes from NSA headquarters
$22,000 – $30,000
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 umbc.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Data Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MPS Cybersecurity
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Information Systems
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
Undergraduate teaching ranked among the top 10 in the US.
Cyber security — an NSA-designated centre of excellence near Fort Meade.
bwtech@UMBC — a research and technology park with cyber security firms on campus.
Between Baltimore and Washington — both cities within 45 minutes.
Graduates join Northrop Grumman, Booz Allen Hamilton, the NSA, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and T. Rowe Price.
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 around USD 80,000-90,000.
Cyber security alumni work at federal contractors and Maryland's large cyber sector.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 500-acre campus sits in suburban Catonsville, just south-west of Baltimore, with a compact academic core, residence halls and the research park all within walking distance.
Baltimore's Inner Harbor is 15 minutes away, Washington, DC about 45. Rent near campus is moderate for the region, and the MARC train links both cities.
Form I-20 issued by UMBC
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
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with a 1 November 2026 Early Action deadline for fall 2027 that also gives priority for scholarships; applications stay open into spring. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most computing and engineering master's closing between January and June for fall.
Undergraduates can start in fall (late August) or spring (January). Most master's programmes, including computer science, data science, cybersecurity, information systems and engineering, admit for both fall and spring. Check your programme's admissions 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, cybersecurity, information systems and electrical engineering attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5, and the GRE for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is holistic, with an acceptance rate around 80%.
UMBC 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 are common in computing and engineering.
