Organizer Information
University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) is a public research university in College Park, Maryland, USA, and the flagship institution of the University System of Maryland. UMD offers undergraduate and graduate study through 12 schools and colleges, with more than 100 undergraduate majors and 230 graduate programs. For arts-focused applicants, relevant academic units include the College of Arts and Humanities and its Department of Art, School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, and other arts-related departments.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: University of Maryland, College Park
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate / Doctoral
- Degrees Offered: BA, BFA, MA, MFA, MSc, PhD and other graduate/professional degrees
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts, Art History, Cinema & Media Studies, Immersive Media, Design, Music, Theatre, Dance, Architecture, Humanities and related fields
- Relevant Programs: Studio Art (B.A.); Studio Art (M.F.A.); Cinema and Media Studies (B.A.); Immersive Media Design (B.A.); Art History (B.A.); Art Education (B.A.); Music; Theatre; Dance; Architecture and related programs
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Varies by applicant type, program and entry term
- Application Deadline: Varies; major undergraduate fall deadlines include 1 November and 20 January
- Start of Studies: Fall and Spring, depending on program
- Application Fee: $80 undergraduate; $90 graduate
- Tuition: From $22,043 per semester for full-time non-resident undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees; graduate rates are program/credit based
- Funding: Scholarships, grants, fellowships and assistantships are available, with eligibility varying by student category and program.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- UMD provides arts study across visual art, design, media, film and performance. The Department of Art offers undergraduate Studio Art and Immersive Media Design programs and an M.F.A. in Studio Art. Studio Art includes painting and drawing, print media, sculpture, digital media and graphic design.
- The B.A. in Cinema and Media Studies is interdisciplinary and includes cinema from around the world, filmmaking practice, media-related internships, film clubs and festivals.
- For the Studio Art M.F.A., an undergraduate major in art is encouraged but not required. Applicants should have at least 30 undergraduate credits in studio art and approximately 12 credits in art history, with additional humanities coursework expected.
General Eligibility
- UMD admits both domestic and international applicants. Undergraduate applicants apply as freshmen or transfers according to their previous post-secondary study. Freshman applicants generally have fewer than 12 semester or 18 quarter hours of university-level credit after secondary school; applicants meeting the transfer-credit threshold apply as transfers.
- International applicants must meet the applicable undergraduate or graduate requirements in addition to international credential and language requirements.
- The Studio Art M.F.A. specifically requires a portfolio of recent work.
Language Requirements
- International undergraduate applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through an accepted test unless UMD grants a waiver. Current undergraduate minimum passing scores include IELTS 7.0, TOEFL iBT 95, or Duolingo English Test 120. Scores must be less than two years old.
- Graduate applicants generally must submit TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic or PTE Academic scores unless they qualify for an official exemption. Individual graduate programs may impose stricter requirements.
Application Fee
| Applicant Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $80 |
| Graduate | $90 |
Undergraduate applicants may receive an application-fee waiver subject to UMD requirements. Graduate fee waivers are available to eligible applicants and are considered individually.
Tuition
| Study Level | Applicant Type | Tuition / Fees | Billing Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate, full-time, 12+ credits | Maryland resident | $6,417.50 | Per semester, including mandatory fees |
| Undergraduate, full-time, 12+ credits | Non-resident | $22,043 | Per semester, including mandatory fees |
| Graduate | Resident | $913 tuition + applicable fees per credit | Per credit |
| Graduate | Non-resident | $1,916 tuition + applicable fees per credit | Per credit |
The undergraduate rates above apply to Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. Mandatory undergraduate fees are $910 per semester for students taking 9 or more credits. Graduate mandatory fees vary according to credit load.
International students requiring an I-20 or DS-2019 are also charged a $125 international student fee per semester; medical insurance is required for international students.
Funding & Financial Support
- UMD offers need-based and merit-based undergraduate aid, including scholarships and grants. The university also identifies graduate scholarships, assistantships and fellowships as sources of graduate funding.
- For the Department of Art's M.F.A., departmental graduate assistantships may provide tuition remission and a stipend, awarded competitively according to portfolio strength and departmental needs. Fellowships and awards are also offered.
- International eligibility varies by funding program. UMD states that it cannot provide need-based financial assistance to international undergraduate students.
University Services & Academic Support
- Arts students have access to dedicated studios, workshops and media facilities, including printmaking, sculpture, painting and drawing studios, digital-media facilities and digital-fabrication resources.
- The Department of Art also operates the Herman Maril Gallery, a student-run exhibition space for undergraduate and graduate work.
- University-wide support includes career advising, internship and employment resources, graduate-school guidance and international-student career support.
Application Requirements
- Undergraduate applicants must submit an online application, essay, activities/awards information or résumé, two recommendation letters, official secondary-school transcripts and, where applicable, college transcripts. SAT/ACT submission is currently optional through the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles.
- International applicants must additionally provide required English-proficiency documentation and, where applicable, third-party evaluations of non-U.S. post-secondary credentials.
- Studio Art M.F.A. applicants must submit the Graduate School application, portfolio and required graduate application materials. The portfolio consists of 20 images of recent work and/or up to 10 minutes of video documentation of time-based or performance-based work.
- Applicants to the School of Music must submit the additional school application and audition.
How to Apply?
Deadline & Timeline
- Fall 2027 Undergraduate Early Action: 1 November 2026
- Fall 2027 Undergraduate Regular Deadline: 20 January 2027
- Fall 2027 Undergraduate Early Action Decision: By 1 February 2027
- Fall 2027 Undergraduate Regular Decision: By 1 April 2027
- Fall 2027 Undergraduate Enrollment Confirmation: 1 May 2027
- Fall Transfer Early Action: 1 March 2027
- Fall Transfer Regular Deadline: 1 June 2027
- Spring International Freshman & Transfer Deadline: 1 August 2026
- Spring U.S. Transfer Regular Deadline: 15 November 2026
Graduate deadlines are program-specific. The Department of Art's currently published M.F.A. page lists 15 January 2026, while the university's current Graduate School application guidance states that deadlines must be checked on each program's current admissions page.
Location
University of Maryland, College Park — College Park, Maryland, United States
Additional Details
- UMD's undergraduate admissions process is institution-wide, while graduate admissions requirements and deadlines are established at the program level. Applicants should therefore verify the specific program before applying.
- For international students, admission does not itself eliminate financial-certification requirements. Students seeking an F-1 or J-1 visa must provide evidence of sufficient funds after admission and enrollment confirmation.
- The Department of Art's published M.F.A. page currently displays a 15 January 2026 deadline and a $75 application fee, whereas the current Graduate School application system states a $90 graduate application fee. The university-level $90 figure is the newer general graduate fee; the program page should be checked for the next M.F.A. admissions cycle before publication or application.