The University of Maryland, College Park, is known as one of the top public research universities in the country, with nationally ranked programs in computer science, engineering, and business, a thriving quantum computing ecosystem, deep partnerships with federal agencies, and a spirited Big Ten athletics culture. Located just outside Washington, D.C., UMD blends the resources of a large flagship university with proximity to the federal government, research labs, and a growing tech corridor.
Top-Ranked Academic Programs
UMD’s computer science department is one of its biggest draws. The graduate program ranks No. 12 nationally and No. 7 among public universities in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings, with specialties in artificial intelligence (No. 16), systems (No. 17), and theory (No. 19). The undergraduate computer science program sits at No. 16 overall, with cybersecurity ranked No. 9 in the country and artificial intelligence at No. 17.
Beyond computer science, UMD is well regarded for its A. James Clark School of Engineering, the Robert H. Smith School of Business, and strong programs in public policy, education, and the sciences. The university’s location gives students and faculty easy access to internships and careers in government, policy, and the defense sector, which reinforces the strength of these programs.
Quantum Computing and the Discovery District
UMD has become one of the country’s leading hubs for quantum computing. The university’s Discovery District, a research and innovation park adjacent to campus, houses a growing network of quantum startups, federal partnerships, and corporate research labs. Microsoft recently opened a quantum research center there to develop next-generation quantum technologies, and IonQ, a major quantum computing company, is headquartered in College Park.
The state and university together launched the Capital of Quantum Initiative, a public-private partnership aiming to catalyze more than $1 billion in investments in quantum research and industry. The initial round included $52.5 million from the state budget and more than $70 million in university and partner commitments for academics, workforce development, and technical support. Since the initiative launched, nearly a dozen quantum startups have moved into the Discovery District.
In a further signal of the ecosystem’s credibility, the state signed a memorandum of agreement with DARPA to establish the Capital Quantum Benchmarking Hub at UMD, a facility for testing and evaluating quantum information science that could unlock up to $100 million in federal funding.
Federal Research Partnerships
UMD’s proximity to Washington, D.C., gives it unusually close ties to federal agencies. The university maintains a formal partnership with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, which is about 15 miles from campus. Joint research spans space-based science, earth sciences, engineering, and biosciences. The arrangement also helps NASA attract and retain graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and full-time scientists.
Several high-profile NASA projects have UMD roots. NASA Harvest, a program focused on food security and agriculture, is based at the university. Researchers contributed to the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) lidar instrument aboard the International Space Station. UMD faculty have also received NASA funding for breakthrough battery technology designed to power future space missions. These federal connections extend beyond NASA to agencies like NIST and NSA, both located nearby, making UMD a natural pipeline for students pursuing careers in national security, defense research, and science policy.
Athletics and Campus Traditions
UMD competes in the Big Ten Conference, and its athletic identity is hard to miss. The school’s four colors (red, white, black, and gold) mirror the bold Maryland state flag, giving Terps gear and uniforms a look unlike any other school in the conference. The mascot, a diamondback terrapin named Testudo, has a statue on campus that students rub for good luck before exams.
Basketball culture runs especially deep. UMD’s former coach Lefty Driesell is widely credited with starting the national tradition of Midnight Madness. The school carries on that spirit with the Midnight Mile, where coaches, players, and up to 1,000 students run a ceremonial lap around the track to tip off basketball season each year. During home games, students shake copies of The Diamondback (the campus newspaper) while the opposing team is introduced and wiggle their fingers in the air during Terps free throws.
Football has its own rituals. Before home games, the marching band, dance squad, and cheer squad line Fieldhouse Drive for Terp Alley, greeting players as they arrive on campus three hours before kickoff. After every home game, the team walks to the student section to sing the Maryland victory song and alma mater with the band. The annual Red and White spring scrimmage dates back to at least 1948 and now serves as a centerpiece of Maryland Day, the university’s open-house celebration.
Notable Alumni
UMD graduates have shaped industries from entertainment to national security. Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, earned his bachelor’s degree at Maryland in 1960, and Larry David, co-creator of Seinfeld and creator of Curb Your Enthusiasm, graduated in 1970. Connie Chung, the first Chinese American to anchor a major network news program, is also a Terp, as is Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.
In technology, George Laurer designed the Universal Product Code (the barcode used in virtually every retail store) after graduating in 1951. Robert Fischell, who earned his master’s at UMD, invented the rechargeable cardiac pacemaker, the implantable insulin pump, and the coronary stent, accumulating roughly 200 patents. Jeong Kim built innovations in wireless and optical networking and went on to lead Bell Labs.
In public service, Steny Hoyer served as U.S. House Majority Leader and was the lead House sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act. James Clapper served as director of national intelligence from 2010 to 2017. Parren Mitchell became the first African American elected to Congress from Maryland and chaired the Congressional Black Caucus. These alumni reflect the university’s strength across a wide range of fields, particularly where technology, policy, and media intersect.