Founded in 1866 as the Maryland State Normal School to train public school teachers, Towson University is the second-largest public university in Maryland. Spanning a modern 329-acre suburban campus in Towson, Maryland, just eight miles north of downtown Baltimore, Towson connects health sciences, business, education, and fine arts with regional career opportunities. You can examine its founding origins, normal school heritage, and growth into a comprehensive university through the Towson University Wikipedia historical entry.
When you attend Towson, you enter a vibrant, student-centered university located in the Baltimore metropolitan area. Living in Towson places you steps away from corporate headquarters, healthcare networks, retail hubs, and environmental research parks.
Premier Academic Programs
Towson hosts six specialized colleges delivering accredited undergraduate and graduate instruction:
- College of Business and Economics: AACSB-accredited business school offering top programs in accounting, finance, marketing analytics, and management. Explore degree options on the College of Business and Economics portal.
- College of Health Professions: State-of-the-art healthcare school preparing clinical nurses, occupational therapists, and public health leaders.
- Fisher College of Science and Mathematics: Delivers instruction in computer science, forensic chemistry, molecular biology, and environmental science.
- College of Education: Premier teacher preparation institution in Maryland, training public educators and school administrators.
- College of Fine Arts and Communication: Features world-class performance halls for music, theater arts, communication studies, and media production.
"Learned members useful to the state, translated from the original founding charter, drives Towson's civic mission."
Campus Culture and Mascot
Your daily student experience centers on Tiger Plaza, Centennial Plaza, and the University Union. School spirit revolves around Doc the Tiger, the official mascot representing Towson Tigers athletic teams competing in NCAA Division I Coastal Athletic Association sports. You can read about spirit traditions and mascot history on the official Doc the Tiger Mascot page. Cheering inside Johnny Unitas Stadium for football games and joining over 300 student clubs creates an engaging student culture.
Research Infrastructure and Cybersecurity
Towson operates an active doctoral research framework with specialized institutes in technology and health:
- Center for Interdisciplinary & Innovative Cybersecurity: National Security Agency-designated center of academic excellence in cyber defense education.
- Towson University Incubator: Regional business incubator helping student entrepreneurs scale technology and health startups. Learn more via Towson Research Operations.
- Urban Environmental Institute: Interdisciplinary research center addressing urban ecology, watershed restoration, and environmental policy.
Notable Alumni Legacy
You walk in the footsteps of Emmy winners, corporate leaders, actors, and public servants, including:
- Amy Schumer: Emmy and Peabody Award-winning comedian, actress, and writer who studied theater at Towson.
- John Glover: Tony Award-winning actor best known for Smallville, who earned his degree in speech and drama at Towson.
- Mike Rowe: Television host and narrator best known for Dirty Jobs, who earned his communications degree at Towson.
- Stacy Keibler: Actress, model, and former professional wrestler who graduated from Towson University.
Towson University offers generous merit scholarships and need-based financial aid coverage for qualified domestic and international applicants. Review full entry requirements on the official Towson Admissions portal.