Private liberal arts college in Maryland founded in 1867, committed to transforming lives through personalized education.
McDaniel College offers a liberal arts education centered on the McDaniel Commitment, which provides personalized mentoring and support from faculty and staff. Students can customize their degrees by combining subjects and following their interests across multiple disciplines. The college emphasizes critical thinking and adaptability, preparing graduates for diverse career fields. More than one-third of students study abroad before graduation.
The main campus sits on 160 acres in Westminster, Maryland, about an hour from Baltimore, with 70 buildings in a suburban setting. The college features Baker Memorial Chapel (dedicated 1958) with a notable 2,310-pipe organ. McDaniel is home to 24 intercollegiate varsity sports teams competing as the Green Terror. The college is recognized for its tailgating tradition, ranked 6th nationally in 2011. Student life includes extensive on-campus housing, with 85% of undergraduates residing on campus.
McDaniel enrolls students through various pathways including Early Decision and Regular Decision. Approximately 90% of undergraduate students receive financial aid, with an average aid package of $40,000. The college maintains a commitment to diversity and inclusion, with a student body representing all backgrounds. International students are welcome, and the college offers graduate and professional studies programs.
McDaniel was the first coeducational institution south of the Mason–Dixon line and among the first in the nation. The college has produced notable alumni in politics, journalism, academia, and entertainment, including U.S. Congressman William F. Goodling and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Wendy Ruderman. The college's football program is historically significant, having invented the forward pass and the shovel pass. McDaniel is recognized as one of the Colleges That Change Lives.