University of Maryland – Baltimore

The University of Maryland – Baltimore, also known UMB, is the flagship campus in the UM school system. Founded in 1807, it opened as the Maryland College of Medicine and provided hands on training for doctors. Just a few years after opening, the school decided to add other programs and adopt the name the University of Maryland to reflect its new programs. Those new programs included one in law and one in theology. Though its arts and sciences courses actually took place at another campus, UMB later absorbed that school, which helped it grow even more. The University System of Maryland now operates five campuses across the state, but its primary or flagship campus is in Baltimore.

Multiple programs, schools and departments at UMB have a high national ranking. U.S. News & World Report honored its lawn school as one of the country's best and recognized its specific programs in environmental, clinical and health law. Other programs that rank among the top in the country include its programs in physical therapy, medical research, nursing and pharmacology. Several publications also named its medical school one of the best in the country. UMB focuses more on graduate education than undergraduate education and has fewer than 900 undergraduate students enrolled but more than 5,000 graduate and doctoral students.

University of Maryland – Baltimore Accreditation Details

A college that does not have accreditation may not set students up with the foundation they need for future success. The United States Department of Education recommends that students always check for accreditation before enrolling. The University of Maryland – Baltimore actually has both primary forms of accreditation. It obtained its regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), which means that it can give students graduating from all programs and levels a degree, including a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree. It also has a few different specialty accreditation honors from major organizations. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education programs accredited its programs in emergency medical technician and diagnostic medical sonography. The Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology, Inc. (ABET) accredited its mechanical engineering, computer engineering, civil engineering and computer sciences programs. Other organizations that granted accreditation to UMB include:

• American Psychological Association
• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
• Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation
• Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration
• National Association of Schools of Dance

University of Maryland – Baltimore Application Requirements

The University of Maryland – Baltimore offers an online application that most students can finish in just 30 minutes. Students will need a transcript, test score and a debit or credit card to complete the application. In addition to filling out basic information about their backgrounds, students will also need to write down a short list of their past classes, describe their overall grades and pay an application fee of $75. Those who want to pay the in state tuition available for Maryland residents will need to fill out a supplemental form to show that they established residency in the state prior to enrolling. Graduate students must take the General Records Examination (GRE) or a similar standardized test and mail official scores to the university.

After completing the application and paying the fee, students must also submit some other documents. The university requires a statement of academic goals and research interests. This basic form gives students the chance to talk about why they want to go to college, the type of research they want to do in school and what they hope to do after college. UMB also requires three letters of recommendation that go directly to the department of the program the student wants to attend. Those letters should come from former professors or professionals familiar with the student's work.

Tuition and Fees

Students may have a difficult time determining the cost of attending the University of Maryland – Baltimore because the university charges so many different rates. Those rates vary based on whether the student lived in or out of state before enrolling and the program itself. Each department has the right to set its own tuition rates. For example, the School of Nursing charges $4,164 a year for residents and $15,482 a year for residents of other states. General tuition rates start at $635 per credit hour for Maryland residents and $1,135 for non-residents. The university requires that all students have health insurance and show proof of that insurance when they enroll. Students can purchase insurance plans through the school.

Most students entering UMB require some type of assistance in the form of financial aid. Both undergraduate and graduate students must submit the FAFSA and list the proper code for UMB before enrolling. This can significantly reduce the amount of money that students are responsible for paying out of their own pockets. While there are some scholarships and grants available, most students opt for loans. Graduate students qualify for unsubsidized loans, direct loans and private loans from lenders.

Institute for Global Health

UMB has a great reputation for its medical and health care programs, and many of those programs are available through its Institute for Global Health (IGH). The IGH offers both dual degree programs and graduate degrees. Dual degree programs include one in DDS and a PhD, one in an MD and Master of Public Health and a program that awards students a PhD and medical degree with a concentration in medical scientist training. The four master's degrees available through the IGH include biochemistry and molecular biology, epidemiology and human genetics, toxicology and cellular and molecular biomedical science. There are eight additional programs available at the PhD level. The Institute for Global Health focuses on the impact the global conditions have on specific populations.

The university understands the troubles that students have in graduate school, which is why academic coaching is available for all students. Academic coaching pairs each student with a professor or counselor who will listen to them, offer guidance and provide them with the support they need both in class and in their fieldwork experiences. Students also have access to all programs, courses and workshops offered by UMB and IGH. The University of Maryland – Baltimore runs different programs throughout the year on topics like retaining knowledge learned in the classroom and developing effective study habits.