The University of Maryland (UMD) is a mid-level institution, ranking #218 in the QS World University Rankings and #112 in the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings. It is ranked #72 by U.S. News rankings.
UMD) is known for its excellence in business, technology, and humanities programs. It has over 40,000 students enrolled in more than 300 academic programs across 12 colleges and schools.
UMD's main campus is located in College Park, Maryland, with additional facilities in nearby Baltimore. It is ranked among the top 20 public universities in the U.S (#17). and holds a spot in the top 44 universities nationwide, according to U.S. News & World Report.
University of Maryland Rankings 2024-25
The University of Maryland (UMD)ranks among the mid-level global universities in various prestigious rankings, including QS, THE, and U.S. News.
The QS ranking has placed it at #218, while THE ranks it at #112. The U.S.News ranking places it at #72 in global rankings.
Here’s a look at the performance of UMD in these rankings.
Ranking Agency
Ranking 2023
Ranking 2024
Ranking 2025
QS World Rankings
164
169
218
Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings
104
114
112
U.S. News Rankings
NA
NA
72
The changing trends in the rankings can be represented through the following graph:
The University of Maryland has shown mixed trends in the last three ranking cycles. In the QS World Rankings, the university has declined from #164 in 2023 to #218 in 2025. This indicates increasing global competition or a relative decline in factors like academic reputation and employer perception.
In contrast, its Times Higher Education (THE) ranking has experienced a relatively smaller change, moving from #104 in 2023 to #114 in 2024, before improving to #112 in 2025.
Now that you've explored the global rankings for the University of Maryland (UMD), let's take a closer look at its performance across subjects.
Subject-Wise Ranking of the University of Maryland
University rankings provide insight into the quality and reputation of specific academic programs. UMD has a good ranking for specific programs, such as business (#87 in THE) and humanities (#64 in U.S.News).
Here’s its performance in various programs across different global ranking systems.
QS Rankings
QS world rankings consider criteria such as academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, research impact, and international diversity.
The QS ranking 2025 has ranked UMD at #28 under Masters in Supply Chain Management. However, other programs in engineering or humanities are not part of the ranking.
The THE rankings have placed UMD at a respectable #87 and #62 for its business and physical sciences programs, respectively.
Here’s how UMD performs.
Subject/Program
Ranking 2025
Arts and Humanities
151-175
Business and Economics
87
Engineering
101-125
Life Sciences
151-175
Physical Sciences
62
U.S. News Rankings
Criteria such as academic reputation, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, and research output help in deciding the U.S.News rankings.
According to U.S.News rankings, UMD’s business program is placed at #70, life sciences at #53, and humanities at #64. However, the engineering program (#110) has scope for improvement.
Here’s how UMD performs across different programs.
Subject/Program
Ranking 2025
Arts and Humanities
64
Business and Economics
70
Engineering
110
Life Sciences
53
Physical Sciences (Physics)
19
After exploring the University of Maryland's performance in various rankings, let’s take a look at its performance in other rankings.
Miscellaneous Ranking 2025
The University of Maryland is also ranked among other global and national lists, such as Forbes Rankings (#41), Princeton Review (#7), and ARWU (#58).
The University of Maryland’s #41 position in Forbes is based on factors like alumni success, student satisfaction, and post-graduation earnings.
Its #7 ranking in undergraduate entrepreneurship by Princeton Review is calculated based on factors like academics, campus life, financial aid, and career prospects.
Additionally, the #58 ranking in the ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) 2024 highlights its research output, quality of faculty, and academic achievements.
After looking at the performance of UMD in alternative rankings, let's explore the features that make it stand out.
University of Maryland: Excellence and Achievements
In addition to academic achievements such as faculty outcomes and research, the University of Maryland also excels in sports and community development initiatives.
Here’s a breakdown of its performance.
Academic Excellence and National Recognition
The students, faculty, and alumni of the University of Maryland have been recognized for their research and startup ideas.
Category
Details
Research
Researchers have calculated cyberattack risks for all 50 US states.
Awarded a $3.6 million Mellon Foundation grant to advance the preservation of Indigenous archives.
Hult Prize
Alumnus Akshaya Anand’s start-up Korion Health has won the annual Hult Prize challenge.
It is a prestigious global competition focused on social entrepreneurship.
Presidential Early-career Award
Professor Soheil Feizi has been awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).
It is the highest honor by the U.S. government for up-and-coming researchers.
Community and Lifestyle Recognitions
All stakeholders at UMD have been working towards creating an inclusive environment and an environmentally sustainable campus.
Category
Details
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
The University is committed to addressing climate change, inequalities, and sustainability.
Their efforts include global projects like those by Engineers Without Borders.
Social Justice
UMD promotes racial equity and social justice, and work toward removing systemic racism.
It will be achieved through policy-driven research and public engagement.
Cultural and Creative Excellence
The University of Maryland has a rich tradition of cultural events, such as Homecoming. Additionally, its athletic teams are renowned for their contributions to U.S. sports.
Category
Details
Homecoming
Each fall, the university’s alumni join present students for a week of reconnecting.
It includes the annual comedy show and the football game.
Athletics
UMD’s eight men’s teams and 12 women’s teams participate at the NCAA Division I level.
Maryland teams have won 47 national championships, including the 2022 men’s lacrosse teams.
After reviewing the University of Maryland's achievements in academics, culture, and community growth, let's examine its performance in other rankings.
University of Maryland: Ranking V/S Acceptance Rates
The University of Maryland, with an acceptance rate of 45%, is considered moderately selective. Its life sciences and humanities are more competitive than professional programs such as business and engineering.
Here’s a look at the acceptance rate for different programs:
Course
THE University Rank 2025
Acceptance Rate
Business and Economics
87
31%
Engineering
101-125
40%
Life Sciences
151-175
15%
Humanities
151-175
24%
After checking out the acceptance rate for different programs, let's take a look at the ranking methodologies used by platforms like QS and THE.
Ranking Methodologies
QS, Times Higher Education (THE), and U.S. News & World Report are the leading university ranking systems that are used to assess university performance. Each ranking focuses on aspects such as academic reputation, research quality, and global outlook to gauge the performance of universities.
Here’s a detailed look at the criteria used for ranking universities.
QS World University Rankings
The QS world ranking emphasizes employer reputation and academic outcomes, obtained from surveys of thousands of academic experts and employers worldwide. It also gives importance to faculty research and international student admissions.
Here are the criteria used in QS World University Rankings.
Focus Area
Indicators
Weightage
Research and Discovery
Academic Reputation
30%
Citations per Faculty
20%
Employability and Outcomes
Employer Reputation
15%
Employment Outcomes
5%
Global Engagement
International Faculty Ratio
5%
International Research Network
5%
International Student Ratio
5%
International Student Diversity
0%
Learning Experience
Faculty Student Ratio
10%
Sustainability
Sustainability
5%
Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings
The Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings focus on research influence, teaching reputation, and staff-to-student ratio. It also emphasizes international diversity and industry income, assessing how well universities collaborate with industries and global academic networks.
Here are the criteria used by THE rankings.
Focus Area
Indicators
Weightage
Teaching
Teaching Reputation
15%
Staff-to-student ratio
4.5%
Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio
2%
Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio
5.5%
Institutional income
2.5%
Research Environment
Research reputation
18%
Research income
5.5%
Research productivity
5.5%
Research Quality
Citation impact
15%
Research strength
5%
Research excellence
5%
Research influence
5%
International Outlook
Proportion of international students
2.5%
Proportion of international staff
2.5%
International collaboration
2.5%
Industry
Industry income
2%
Patents
2%
U.S. News and World Report Rankings
This indicator uses special criteria like first-year retention rates, graduation rates, and student-faculty ratio. Other criteria like borrower debt and financial resources measure how well universities support low-income students.
Here are the criteria used in U.S. News and World Report Rankings
Focus Indicators
Weightage
Graduation Rates
16%
First-year retention rates
5%
Graduation rate performance
10%
Pell graduation rates
5.5%
Pell graduation performance
5.5%
College grads earning more than a high school grad
5%
Borrower debt
5%
Peer assessment
20%
Financial resources
8%
Faculty salaries
8%
Full-time faculty
3%
Student-faculty ratio
4%
Standardized tests
5%
The above rankings reflect how well a university is positioned to offer quality education and outcomes to students, using indicators like employability and industry applications.
Now, let’s understand how upGrad will help you to study at University of Maryland.
How Will upGrad Help You?
upGrad helps students and professionals advance their education and careers through expert mentorship, industry-relevant courses, and flexible learning options. Its bridge courses build foundational knowledge, allowing a smooth transition into specialized fields such as AI, machine learning, data science, business, and engineering.
Additionally, the study abroad program offered by upGrad provides students with the following benefits:
Expert Mentorship: Guidance from industry professionals and academic experts who provide personalized insights to help you succeed in your field.
Industry-Relevant Courses: Learn practical, real-world skills through up-to-date courses designed to meet the needs of today's industry trends.
Flexible Learning Options: Online courses and flexible schedules allow you to balance your education with other commitments.
Career Support: Receive career coaching, job placement assistance, and networking opportunities to help you land your desired role.
Here are some study abroad opportunities offered by upGrad at University of Maryland:
The University of Maryland (UMD) can be categorized as a mid-level global institution based on its rankings in QS (#218) and THE (#112). Its U.S. News ranking of #72 further supports this classification.
While THE rankings have shown slight improvement (#114 to #112), the QS ranking (#169 to #218) has declined over recent years.
Program-wise, UMD performs well in business, ranking #87 in THE and #70 in U.S. News. However, engineering programs (101-125 in THE) have room for improvement, indicating potential areas for further development and investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the University of Maryland a Tier-1 institute?
Yes, the University of Maryland (UMD) is classified as a Tier-1 research university. It holds the R1 (Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity) designation under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, which is the standard for defining Tier-1 research institutions in the United States.
What is the global standing of the University of Maryland compared to UC Berkeley?
UMD is ranked #218 in the QS World University Rankings 2025, while UC Berkeley ranks #10. Berkeley consistently ranks among the top public universities globally, excelling in research and innovation.
Has the University of Maryland’s global performance improved in the QS World University Rankings 2025?
No, the University of Maryland (UMD) has dropped in the QS World University Rankings 2025. It is ranked #218 globally, down from #169 in 2024. The decline is partly due to changes in QS ranking methodology, which now includes factors such as Sustainability, Employment Outcomes, and International Research Network.
Where does the University of Maryland stand compared to the University of Michigan in US News rankings?
UMD is ranked #72 in U.S. News & World Report’s Global University Rankings, whereas Michigan is ranked #19. This higher ranking reflects Michigan's strong reputation for research and graduate programs.
Should I choose the University of Maryland or the University of Washington for the social sciences program?
University of Maryland (UMD) is ranked #70 in social sciences, whereas the University of Washington (UW) is ranked #25, based on THE Rankings by Subject 2025. This higher ranking suggests that UW has a stronger overall reputation and performance in social sciences compared to UMD.
Which program at the University of Maryland is among the best in the US?
According to U.S. News, the University of Maryland ranks #16 in Undergraduate Engineering, #12 in Artificial Intelligence, and #9 in Management Information Systems. These rankings reflect the university's strong research output, industry partnerships, and rigorous academic programs.
Which university best aligns with my career goals: the University of Maryland or Ohio State University?
University of Marylandexcels in tech-driven fields like engineering, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. On the other hand, Ohio State University offers industry connections in finance, healthcare, and business. If your focus is on research or technology, University of Maryland is a good choice.
What is the performance of the University of Maryland in entrepreneurship and startup culture?
In the Princeton Review 2025 rankings, UMD ranks #7 for undergraduate entrepreneurship programs. This shows the university’s strong support for startups, incubators, and research-driven business ventures.
Does a degree in economics and business studies from the University of Maryland offer a good career path?
According to U.S. News rankings 2025, UMD is ranked #70 in economics and business studies, reflecting industry-aligned programs, networking opportunities, and career support. It helps graduates secure roles in finance, consulting, and government sectors.
Is Penn State University as good as the University of Maryland among state universities based on U.S. News Rankings 2025?
According to the 2025 U.S. News rankings, the University of Maryland is ranked #17 among public universities, while Penn State University is ranked #30. This distinction shows differences in factors such as graduation rates, faculty resources, and academic reputation.
Should I choose the University of Maryland or Northeastern University for engineering programs based on THE rankings 2025?
According to THE Rankings 2025, the University of Maryland is ranked #101-125 for engineering, while Northeastern University falls within the #176-200 bracket. These rankings indicate that University of Maryland has a stronger reputation in engineering disciplines.
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