University of Maryland, Baltimore
Maryland's public health, law and human services university: six professional schools and no first-year undergraduate entry.
- Students
- 6,784
- 983 undergraduates
- Tuition
- $34,038
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1807
- QS World Ranking
- 801-850
- 2027 edition
About UMB
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) opened in 1807 as the College of Medicine of Maryland, now the oldest public medical school in the United States, and is the original campus of the University System of Maryland. It describes itself as Maryland's only public health, law and human services university. Its six professional schools (Dentistry, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Social Work) and the School of Graduate Studies share a downtown Baltimore campus with the University of Maryland Medical System and a VA medical center.
UMB is not a place to start college straight from high school: there is no first-year undergraduate admission. In fall 2025, 5,801 of its 6,784 students (86%) were in professional and graduate programs. Undergraduates, 983 in fall 2025, join as juniors in upper-division programs, mainly the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (after 59 credits of prerequisites elsewhere) and a 2+2 Bachelor of Science in dental hygiene. Each school runs its own admissions.
The university's schools have deep roots: the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, chartered in 1840, was the world's first dental college, and UMB brought in $636 million in research funding in fiscal 2025. It suits students who already know they want a career in nursing, dentistry, medicine, law, pharmacy or social work.
Why students choose UMB
The BSN is ranked tied No. 9 nationally and No. 7 among public schools by U.S. News (2027 Best BSN Programs), and can be completed in Baltimore or at the Universities at Shady Grove.
Clinical training alongside medical, dental, pharmacy and social work students on a campus shared with the University of Maryland Medical System.
UMB confers the majority of professional practice doctoral degrees awarded in Maryland, so its alumni networks in state health care and law are large.
$636 million in extramural research funding in FY2025 and a 14-acre BioPark with nearly 40 biotech tenants next to campus.
Admissions
Upper-division undergraduate entry, fall 2027 (School of Nursing BSN and School of Dentistry BS in Dental Hygiene)
Selectivity
UMB has no first-year (freshman) undergraduate admission and publishes no overall admit rate. Undergraduates enter as juniors after completing prerequisites at another accredited college: the BSN requires 59 prerequisite credits with a 3.0 overall and science GPA, and the BS in Dental Hygiene is a 2+2 program requiring 57 prerequisite credits. Most students enter graduate and professional programs (DDS, JD, MD, PharmD, MSW, MSN, DNP, PhD), each admitted by its own school.
Typical entry requirements
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing (entry into nursing) | 59 credits of prerequisites from an accredited institution, at least two of the four lab sciences completed before applying (taken within the last 10 years), no more than four courses in progress, 3.0 overall and science GPA, TEAS proficient |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene | 57 prerequisite credits (at least 16 of 24 science credits done by the end of the fall before entry), 8 hours shadowing a dental hygienist, recommendations from a college science teacher and a hygienist or dentist; apply via ADEA DHCAS |
| International coursework | Foreign transcripts evaluated by WES or ECE; English proficiency evidence unless you hold a U.S. degree or qualify for an exemption |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 79 School of Nursing: TOEFL iBT 79 (550 paper-based) or IELTS 6.5 for the BSN (IELTS 7 for graduate programs), scores under two years old. Dental hygiene asks for TOEFL iBT 80-85. Graduate and professional schools set their own requirements. |
Deadlines
- BSN fall 2027: priority deadline Non-binding Next deadline · In ~2 monthsDecember 15, 2026
Application opened September 2, 2026. Complete applications by this date get priority consideration for admission and School of Nursing scholarships.
- BSN fall 2027: regular deadline Non-binding In ~4 monthsFebruary 1, 2027
Last date for merit scholarship and Conway Scholarship consideration; later applications are reviewed on a space-available basis. The final deadline is to be announced.
- BS in Dental Hygiene (fall 2027 entry) Non-binding In ~5 monthsFebruary 22, 2027
Application window October 23, 2026 to February 22, 2027 via ADEA DHCAS; incomplete applications are not considered.
There is no first-year application. Deadlines shown are for upper-division undergraduate entry in fall 2027; the BSN also admits in spring (spring 2027 regular deadline September 1, 2026). Each professional and graduate school publishes its own deadlines.
How to apply
Apply to the individual school, not to UMB centrally. BSN: School of Nursing online application with a non-refundable fee, transcripts, TEAS and supporting materials through its Admissions Dashboard. Dental hygiene: ADEA DHCAS application with shadowing form, transcripts, recommendations and resume. Graduate and professional programs use their own application systems.
What admissions looks for
- For the BSN, alignment with the School of Nursing's core values: respect and integrity, well-being, equity and justice, and innovation.
- Leadership, community engagement and health care experience that show readiness for nursing.
- Strong prerequisite grades, especially in the sciences (3.0 minimum overall and science GPA for the BSN).
- For dental hygiene, high science grades, completed shadowing and recommendations from a science teacher and a dental professional.
Tips for applying to UMB
- 1 Plan two years ahead: complete your BSN or dental hygiene prerequisites at a community college or four-year school, then transfer in as a junior.
- 2 Submit a complete BSN application by December 15, 2026 for priority consideration, and by February 1, 2027 at the latest to be considered for merit and Conway scholarships.
- 3 Take the TEAS early and aim for proficient in every section, not just overall.
- 4 For dental hygiene, finish at least 16 of the 24 science credits by the end of fall and log your eight shadowing hours before you apply.
- 5 If you want a traditional four-year college experience, look at other University System of Maryland campuses first and come to UMB for your professional degree.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
About 80% of UMB students receive assistance through the financial aid office, which processes around $194 million a year in institutional grants, scholarships, loans, state and federal aid. BSN applicants who apply by the regular deadline are automatically considered for School of Nursing merit scholarships, and can apply separately for the Conway Scholarship.
- $56,202 (Maryland resident), $88,477 (non-resident)
- 2026-27 BSN year 1 cost of attendance
- About 80%
- Students receiving aid through the financial aid office
- About $194 million
- Aid processed annually
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Tied No. 9 nationally in U.S. News 2027 Best BSN Programs, in a school founded in 1889 by Florence Nightingale colleague Louisa Parsons.
BS in Dental Hygiene
A 2+2 program inside the School of Dentistry, whose forerunner was the world's first dental college (1840).
Doctor of Medicine (School of Medicine)
The nation's oldest public medical school, 9th among public universities for total research funding (AAMC, 2024).
Juris Doctor (Carey School of Law)
4th in health care law and part-time law in U.S. News 2025, with 18 legal clinics providing 75,000 hours of free legal services a year.
Doctor of Pharmacy (School of Pharmacy)
Chartered in 1841 as the fourth-oldest pharmacy school in the U.S.
Research
- $636 million in extramural research funding in FY2025, averaging $1.46 million per tenured or tenure-track faculty member.
- With the University of Maryland, College Park, $1.39 billion in combined research spending, 11th among public institutions in the NSF HERD survey for FY2023.
- The 14-acre University of Maryland BioPark is Baltimore's biggest biotechnology cluster, with nearly 40 tenants and more than 1,000 employees.
Schools & faculties
- School of Dentistry
- Francis King Carey School of Law
- School of Medicine
- School of Nursing
- School of Pharmacy
- School of Social Work
- School of Graduate Studies
College Scorecard (undergraduates, mostly BSN graduates): median earnings of $88,174 ten years after entry and $82,754 six years after entry for federally aided students.
Student life
UMB is a professional campus rather than a traditional college: 86% of students are in graduate and professional programs, and most live off campus because the university has no university-owned housing. The Southern Management Corporation Campus Center has dining, meeting spaces and the URecFit gym. The campus is shared with the University of Maryland Medical System and a VA medical center, and many students take part in community work, from the CURE Scholars mentoring program for West Baltimore middle and high school students to the School of Nursing's Governor's Wellmobile mobile clinic and the law school's free legal clinics.
- Interprofessional learning across seven schools on one downtown campus.
- CURE Scholars Program, a long-term mentoring initiative for West Baltimore middle and high school students interested in STEM and health careers.
- Law students and faculty provide about 75,000 hours of free legal services a year through 18 clinics.
- Davidge Hall, in use for medical education since 1813, is the oldest such building in the U.S.
Housing. UMB has no university-owned on-campus housing; the 2026-27 cost of attendance assumes off-campus living at $2,950 a month.
Location
UMB occupies the west side of downtown Baltimore, near Camden Yards, the Baltimore Convention Center and Lexington Market. The campus is served by the University Center/Baltimore Street light rail stop, and Camden Station's MARC trains connect to College Park and Washington, D.C. Expect a dense, urban health sciences district rather than a leafy quad.
Nearest airport: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Notable alumni
- BM Barbara MikulskiU.S. senator from Maryland and former social worker; Master of Social Work (1965)
- MO Martin O'MalleyMayor of Baltimore (1999-2006) and governor of Maryland (2007-2015); JD (1988)
- EC Elijah CummingsU.S. representative for Maryland's 7th district (1996-2019); JD (1976)
- BC Ben CardinU.S. senator from Maryland (2007-2025); JD (1967), first in his class
- FM F. Mason SonesCardiologist who pioneered coronary angiography; MD (1943)
- A" Archibald "Moonlight" GrahamBaseball player and physician portrayed in Field of Dreams; MD (1905)
Frequently asked questions
Can you apply to the University of Maryland, Baltimore as a freshman?
No. UMB has no first-year undergraduate admission. Undergraduates enter as juniors in the BSN or dental hygiene programs after completing about two years of prerequisites at another college.
What GPA do you need for the UMB nursing BSN?
At least a 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.0 science GPA, 59 prerequisite credits and a TEAS score of proficient or higher. The fall 2027 priority deadline is December 15, 2026.
Is UMB the same as the University of Maryland, College Park?
No. UMB is a separate University System of Maryland institution focused on health, law and human services; it has a formal strategic partnership with College Park but separate admissions.
How much does the UMB BSN cost?
For 2026-27, BSN tuition is $10,842 a year for Maryland residents and $44,559 for non-residents. The full year-one cost of attendance, including fees and living costs, is $56,202 or $88,477.
Does UMB have dorms?
No. UMB has no university-owned on-campus housing, and its cost of attendance assumes off-campus living at $2,950 a month.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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