Founded in 1966 in Catonsville in Baltimore County, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County is an honors-focused public research university celebrated for undergraduate teaching, STEM diversity, and social mobility. Spanning a modern 500-acre hilltop campus located minutes from downtown Baltimore and BWI Airport, UMBC has achieved international renown for producing top doctoral scholars in science, engineering, and mathematics. You can examine its rapid growth and institutional history through the UMBC Wikipedia historical entry.
When you study at UMBC, you enter an inclusive academic culture that emphasizes undergraduate participation in faculty-mentored scientific research. Living in Baltimore County places you inside a collaborative community backed by major technological research parks and government partnerships.
Premier Academic Programs
UMBC organizes its instruction across three academic colleges alongside specialized research schools:
- College of Engineering and Information Technology: Delivers top-ranked programs in cybersecurity, computer science, chemical engineering, and data science. Explore research labs via UMBC College of Engineering portal.
- College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences: Global leader in biochemistry, marine biotechnology, physics, and biological sciences.
- Erickson School of Aging Studies: Innovative school specializing in management, policy, and human services within the senior longevity economy.
- School of Public Policy: Focuses on health policy, urban economics, educational evaluation, and environmental policy.
- College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences: Drives research in digital humanities, public history, media arts, and sociology.
"Prospice, translated from Latin as Look Forward, serves as UMBC's official motto, inspiring innovative thinking."
Campus Culture and Mascot
Your daily student experience centers on Academic Row, the Commons, and the Retriever Activities Center. School spirit revolves around Chessie the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the official mascot representing UMBC Retrievers athletic teams competing in NCAA Division I America East Conference sports. You can read about spirit traditions and mascot history on the official UMBC Retrievers Athletics portal. Celebrating national chess championship victories, cheering for retriever sports, and joining over 270 student organizations creates a close-knit campus culture.
Research Infrastructure and STEM Diversity
UMBC operates an R1 doctoral research enterprise famous for its pioneering Meyerhoff Scholars Program:
- bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park: 71-acre research park co-locating tech startups, cybersecurity firms, and university research centers.
- Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research (GESTAR): Major research consortium collaborating directly with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Learn more via UMBC Research Operations.
- Center for Advanced Sensor Technology: Interdisciplinary research center developing bio-sensors and medical diagnostic tools.
Notable Alumni Legacy
You walk in the footsteps of scientific leaders, public health champions, actors, and music directors, including:
- Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett: Viral immunologist and key lead scientist in developing the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, who graduated from UMBC.
- Kathleen Turner: Golden Globe-winning and Oscar-nominated actress who earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at UMBC.
- Jerome Adams: Former Surgeon General of the United States who earned his undergraduate degrees in biochemistry and psychology at UMBC.
- Jonathon Heyward: Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra who studied music performance at UMBC.
UMBC provides generous merit scholarship coverage and need-based financial assistance for domestic and international applicants. Review full entry guidelines on the official UMBC Admissions portal.