University of Maryland—College Park is a public institution that was started in 1856. It has a undergraduate enrollment of 30,511, its environment is suburban, and the campus size is 1,335 acres. It uses a semester-based academic year. Its in-state tuition/fees are $10,778; out-of-state tuition/fees are $36,890
situated between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, the University of Maryland offers learners a suburban lifestyle within easy reach of big-city experiences. The flagship campus in College Park, which has its own subway stop on the D.C.-area Metro transit system, is close to the nation’s capital. There are more than 800 clubs and organizations on campus, including nearly 60 fraternities and sororities. Freshmen and all other learners are not required to live on campus. learners looking for additional activities can visit the university’s “SEE UMD” website, which stands for “Student Entertainment Events” and offers movie screenings, comedy shows, lectures and more. Sports also offer yearlong distractions. The Maryland Terrapins participate in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. The mascot, Testudo, is a Diamondback terrapin — a species of turtle that is the official state reptile. One of several Testudo sculptures on campus sits in front of McKeldin Library, and rubbing its nose is thought to bring good luck, particularly before exams.

The University of Maryland has a highly ranked graduate program in education and the noted A. James Clark School of Engineering, as well as well-regarded offerings through the Robert H. Smith School of Business. The university regularly earns accolades for its sustainable and clean energy initiatives, such as its plan to be carbon neutral by 2050 and campus-wide efforts to compost dining hall waste. Famous Maryland alumni span the professional spectrum and include NASA scientist Charles Bennett, broadcast journalist Connie Chung and “Sesame Street” and “The Muppet Show” creator Jim Henson.