COLLEGE PARK, Md - The University of Maryland rose to No. 44 among national universities in rankings released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report, its best-ever showing—and a 20-position leap since 2020.
UMD also jumped two spots to No. 17 among public schools, its highest in over a decade, in the influential 2025 "Best Colleges" guide. The university now has a combined 71 top-25 rankings for its schools, colleges, programs and specialties, according to U.S. News.
“We should all be proud to be part of a university that is recognized across the board for our academic excellence, research enterprise, workplace environment, student experience and commitment to inclusivity,” university President Darryll J. Pines and Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer King Rice said in a joint email to the campus community.
UMD’s improved graduation and retention rates, faculty salaries, student-to-faculty ratio, incoming student test scores and graduate earnings all led to the university’s record-high rating.
“While rankings are but one measure of success, their deeper meaning is a reflection of our work as a university community to achieve excellence in all we do—including the investments we’ve made in our people,” said Pines and Rice.
U.S. News also examines academic fields and undergraduate programs in its rankings, which prospective students have relied on during college searches for more than four decades. UMD received high marks in the following categories:
Business
- UMD placed 23rd overall and No. 13 among public institutions, with three specialties in the top 25:
Management information systems: No. 9 overall, No. 7 among publics
Management: No. 17 overall, No. 11 among publics
Supply chain management/logistics: No. 16 overall, No. 14 among publics
Computer Science
- UMD ranked No. 19 nationally and No. 11 among public institutions, with three specialties in the top 25:
Artificial intelligence: No. 12 overall, No. 5 among publics
Cybersecurity: No. 13 overall, No. 9 among publics
Computer systems: No. 18 overall; No. 11 among publics
Engineering
- UMD rose to No. 16 nationally and No. 9 among public institutions, with six specialties in the top 25:
Aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical: No. 11 nationwide, No. 7 among publics
Civil engineering: No. 20 nationwide; No. 15 among publics
Computer engineering: No. 17 nationwide, No. 11 among publics
Electrical/electronic/communications engineering: No. 24 nationwide, No. 14 among publics
Mechanical engineering: No. 17 nationwide, No. 11 among publics
Materials engineering: No. 23 nationwide, No. 16 among publics
Behavioral Sciences
Economics: No. 30 overall; No. 9 among publics
Psychology: No. 34 overall; No. 16 among publics
Other notable rankings:
Best college for veterans: No. 24 nationwide; No. 17 among publics
Most innovative: No. 21 among publics
Best undergraduate teaching: No. 22 among publics
Living-learning communities: No. 10 “program to look for”