University of Maryland-College Park

University of Maryland-College Park is a public land-grant research university located in College Park, Maryland, just northeast of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1856, it is the flagship institution of the University System of Maryland. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across disciplines including engineering, business, public policy, computer science, and the sciences. Its proximity to federal agencies has supported significant research activity and partnerships. Students are often drawn to University of Maryland-College Park for its combination of research opportunities, access to internships in the nation’s capital, and a large campus environment with Division I athletics in the Big Ten Conference.

University of Maryland-College Park was founded in 1856 as the Maryland Agricultural College in College Park, Maryland. Established during a period of national expansion in agricultural and technical education, it became a land-grant institution following the Morrill Act of 1862. Charles Benedict Calvert, a founder of the college, served as its first president. In 1916, the State of Maryland assumed control and renamed it Maryland State College. In 1920, it merged with the existing University of Maryland, making the College Park campus the institution’s primary undergraduate location. The University of Maryland-College Park expanded significantly after World War II, increasing enrollment and research activity. In 1988, it was designated the flagship campus of the newly formed University System of Maryland. Today, University of Maryland-College Park is a major public research university serving students from across the United States and abroad.