A public research university in College Park, Maryland, founded in 1856 and designated the flagship of the University System of Maryland.
The University of Maryland, College Park is a public institution located in College Park, Maryland, and describes itself as the flagship institution of the State of Maryland. Its mission is to provide excellent teaching, research and service. The university aims to be a preeminent national center for research and for graduate education. It has more than 41,000 students, including over 31,000 undergraduates.
The university traces its history to 1856, when the General Assembly chartered a state agricultural school. The Maryland Agricultural College opened three years later with 34 students. In 1920, the College Park and Baltimore campuses were consolidated to form the University of Maryland, and the Graduate School awarded its first Ph.D. degrees that year. In 1988, College Park was designated the flagship university of the University System of Maryland.
UMD offers over 100 undergraduate majors across 12 schools and colleges. It houses more than 230 master's, doctoral and certificate programs. The university holds accreditation from the Association of American Universities, granted in 1925. Admission routes include first-year undergraduate, transfer, international student and graduate admission.
M Square, later renamed the Discovery District, launched in 2004 as the largest research park inside the Washington Beltway. The Discovery District spans 150 acres. Campus facilities include dining halls, residence halls, Campus Pantry, SECU Stadium, Xfinity Center, Eppley Recreation Center and La Plata Beach.