Deciding to be a Maryland Engineer

The deadline to confirm enrollment for first-year students admitted for fall 2025 is May 1. If you have questions about confirming enrollment, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at ApplyMaryland@umd.edu.

Students are required to submit final high school transcripts to confirm that they graduated high school. If there are any concerns or questions, the Undergraduate Admissions Office will reach out to the student. At this time, AP/IB credit is awarded if students receive a certain score on the exam. If you have any questions, contact Transfer Credit Services within the Registrar's Office at (301)-314-8240 or registrar-help@umd.edu. 

All enrollment deferrals must be approved by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. If your deferral is approved, your space in the Clark School will be available to you when you enroll.

We usually enroll around 800 - 850 first-year students each year. Please visit our website for more specific information on enrollment by major.

For general statistics and rankings for the Clark School, please visit our Fact & Figures website.

Due to high demand, direct entry into Aerospace, Computer, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering has a fixed number of openings each year that depend on the capacity to provide students with seats in their required courses. If spaces fill, qualified applicants may be invited to General Engineering. This pathway allows you to build a strong foundational baseline and apply to your intended major after completing gateway requirements. (Please note that transfer into the four high-demand programs remains space-dependent, and transfer admission is not guaranteed even if the gateway requirements are successfully completed.)

General engineering students receive permission to enroll in Keystone courses, ENES181 (Engineering & The Grand Challenges) and ENED101 (Exploring Engineering Majors). They have access to Engineering advising, Clark School scholarships, Flexus and Virtus living-learning programs, and they can enroll in Clark School sponsored study abroad programs, student services, and events.

We encourage students in General Engineering to take the time to explore all engineering majors, as many majors overlap on similar applications from a slightly different perspective in ways that students often do not expect. General Engineering students receive additional advising to assist them in this process. As a General Engineering student, if you are interested in switching to an engineering major that is not high-demand, you may submit a Change of Major form.

Students invited to General Engineering who wish to apply to a high-demand major (Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering) must meet all of the gateway requirements and be enrolled in the Clark School of Engineering for at least one semester before submitting an application through the internal LEP application process. Keep in mind that students may only apply one time to a Limited Enrollment Program after they are enrolled at UMD. Space in high-demand majors is limited, and admission is competitive.

First-year students who are invited to the Clark School of Engineering and wish to switch to an engineering major that is not high-demand may request a change of major at any time after they are admitted to UMD. If a student wishes to change their major before their summer orientation, they should email lep@umd.edu and include their University Identification Number in the email. If a student would like to change their major during or after orientation, they should complete the steps outlined in the Changing Major process on the Engineering Academic Services website.

Yes, students admitted to UMD before Fall 2027 and enrolled in Spring 2027 or later will enroll in the original major to which they were invited, unless a change is requested by the student.

Admitted students who applied to the University of Maryland by the Early Action deadline are automatically considered for merit based scholarships offered by the University and scholarships offered by the A. James Clark School of Engineering. If a scholarship requires a separate application, we will notify admitted students.

We encourage students to research scholarships that are offered external to the University. There are additional resources available through the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Students can be awarded both University merit scholarships and Clark School Scholarships.

Yes. There are Clark School scholarships for four years (or eight semesters) and scholarships for shorter terms. The most common scholarship awarded to incoming students, the Clark Legacy Scholarship, is a two-year (or four semester) award. Once students enroll in the Clark School, they have the opportunity to apply annually for additional Clark School scholarships for our continuing students.

While some Clark School Scholarships, including our Clark Scholars Program, are specifically for in-state students, many others are available to both in-state and out-of-state students.

This varies by scholarship. All Clark Foundation Scholarships, including the Clark Scholars Program and Clark Legacy awards, require recipients to be US Citizens or Permanent Residents. There are other Clark School scholarships for new and continuing students that are available to international students; however, there are no scholarships which will cover all tuition and fees for international students.

This varies by scholarship. Student scholarship recipients are encouraged to contact us at FutureEngineer@umd.edu if they are interested in deferring a scholarship for a semester or more.

Yes. You can learn more at the Office of Student Orientation and Transition website.

We follow a strict seat management plan during orientation and try to provide students with the courses they need for their first semester. Sometimes courses can be pushed to the spring with no harm to the student’s graduation timeline.

Students who successfully complete PLTW101 + PLTW102 (from RIT) will have the option to take ENES193 (1 credit) in place of ENES100 at UMD to complete the Engineering Design requirement. In other words, credit for PLTW101 + PLTW102 (from RIT) will count as ENES192, and students may complete ENES192 and ENES193 as an equivalent to ENES100 (which is noted at the bottom of the Keystone website).

A guide for transferring AP credits is available for both prospective and current students to review possible credit transfer.

All new students will have the opportunity to speak with an advisor during orientation. The advisor will be able to see the student's specific academic records.

ALL first year students, regardless of SAT or AP/IB scores, must take the Math Placement Test before coming to New Student Orientation. There are no exemptions from taking the Math Placement Test for first year students.

If students don't place in Calculus for their first semester, each Clark School department has a plan in place to help students stay on track for a four-year graduation.

The Mathematics Placement Test consists of 67 questions covering four main areas: arithmetic, algebra I, algebra II, and trigonometry.

Students will receive information regarding math placement as they register for orientation.  The math placement exam should be taken prior to attending orientation.

The LSAMP Bridge Program offers incoming freshmen pursuing engineering an opportunity to receive academic and personal support through tutoring resources, math and science workshops, professional development and community.  As an LSAMP Bridge participant, a student is considered an active member of the nationwide LSAMP Alliance, with access to LSAMP Travel Award Program, LSAMP Undergraduate Research program, opportunities to attend various conferences and the LSAMP Bridge to Doctorate Program. 

Absolutely. In the first semester at UMD, students enroll in a course called Introduction to Engineering Design, ENES100. In this course, students gain hands-on experience by working on an engineering design project with 7-8 other students in the team. Please visit the Keystone Program website for a description of other introductory courses that embrace experiential learning. You’ll also have the opportunity to work in labs and conduct research in your upper level courses.

Class sizes vary. Most general courses that all engineering majors take (general chemistry, math, physics) have large lectures of around 100-200 people. But these large classes break out into discussion sections with teaching assistants. The discussion sections are about 20-30 people. Major specific courses will have fewer students, typically around 30 students depending on the major and class.

Just about any type of computer will be useful for engineering students. Our office of Engineering Information Technology recommends that computers have a solid state drive (SSD), which will improve overall performance.

Most importantly, get to know your faculty and our research facilities. Our faculty are eager to work with undergraduates on research projects. You can also learn more about the many research opportunities available to students on our website.

Sample graduation plans are available for each major. They assume no placement out of any major courses through AP exams. 

Our one-year retention for new first-year students is 87%, and our six-year graduation rate is about 76%, which rank us among the top at public flagship universities nationwide.

It is possible to change your major, but the process depends on your preferred major. Our high-demand majors at College Park, including Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, require an application and review to join the major. Admission is competitive, with space limited to a small number of openings each semester. Students may switch into the other Engineering majors by submitting a Change of Major form, including:

• Biocomputational Engineering (offered at the Universities at Shady Grove),
• Bioengineering,
• Civil Engineering,
• Cyber-Physical Systems Engineering (offered at the Universities at Shady Grove),
• Chemical Engineering,
• Fire Protection Engineering,
• Materials Sciences and Engineering,
• Mechatronics Engineering (offered at the Universities at Shady Grove), and
• Mechanical and Electrical Engineering programs offered at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland.

Please visit our "Declaring an Engineering Major" website for more information about changing majors and declaring a major as a General Engineering student.

Double degrees with other majors on campus is common. Likewise, students are free to select from the more than 80 minors on campus.

A double degree is possible in 4 years. Students sometimes need to complete summer and winter courses or credit overloads, but it is possible.

If a student changes their major within the first couple semesters, they are likely to not have to extend graduation because most majors take similar engineering courses and basic science courses. If you switch majors later, you may need more time.

Yes, there is a pre-health advising office available to students who plan to pursue a medical career. Additionally, students in Bioengineering can fulfill some of the pre-med requirements in that major. 

Yes, students can take courses in their departmental major within the first year. 

The combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree (B.S./M.S.) Program is available only to current University of Maryland undergraduate students. Each major has different criteria and GPA requirements to apply for the program.

Yes, you can pursue a STEM degree and be a part of the Terrapin Teachers program.

Absolutely. We encourage students to participate in the University of Maryland’s living and learning communities. Many of our students are members of living and learning communities while also taking part in many other activities such as competitions, clubs, societies, internships, and study abroad.

You can submit your Flexus/Virtus application before committing to the university. Visit Flexus and Virtus engineering living-learning programs to learn more about these living and learning communities open to incoming first-year engineering students, including the application process and deadlines.

While it is possible to participate in both Flexus/Virtus and another living and learning program (LLP), living in Easton Hall during your first year with the Flexus/Virtus community is a requirement to participate in the program(s)*. If you desire to participate in both programs, you may, as long as the other program does not also require you to live there.  

*Students accepted into Flexus/Virtus are required to live on campus during their first year. However, waivers can be requested to accommodate a variety of circumstances, for example, students commuting to campus from home or needing special housing arrangements.  

If you participate in Flexus/Virtus, you will be assigned to Easton Hall and placed with a roommate who is also a participant in the program. Requests for roommates outside of Flexus/Virtus can be made. Please keep in mind that roommate requests cannot be guaranteed. The Department of Residence Life manages all roommate requests and inquiries should be directed to the Department of Residence Life at reslife@umd.edu.

Yes! WIE events, programs, and opportunities are open to all engineering students. 

All scholarships provided by University of Maryland, including Banneker/Key, can be applied towards the costs of approved semester study abroad programs. In addition, most college savings plans and outside scholarships can be used towards the costs of studying abroad on approved programs.

Yes, there are many study abroad programs created specifically for each engineering major. All majors in the Clark School have the ability to study abroad for a semester and complete 12-15 credits towards degree requirements.

The prices vary based on location, whether you are in-state or out-of-state, and the type of program you enroll in. In most cases, studying abroad on an engineering sponsored semester program is similar to the cost of attendance at UMD, and in some cases is less expensive.

Any type of internship experience is beneficial for students. At this point, employers don't expect you to know exactly what you want to do. You will learn more about what you are passionate about once you've completed more coursework and as you interact with employers who recruit at UMD.

The average salary for engineering internships is $25/hour, but it varies by major.

A co-op job is exactly like an internship except that you work full-time for a fall or spring semester in addition to the summer. Instead of registering for classes, you register for a 0-credit co-op class that never meets. This way "Co-op/Internship Work Experience" shows up on your transcript, and it doesn't look like you dropped out for the semester. You don't pay tuition either, just a $60 administrative fee. You can even live on-campus if your co-op job is local. Before accepting a co-op job, students need to meet with their academic advisor to see how taking off  a semester impacts their four-year academic plan. Students also need to contact the Financial Aid Office to defer their scholarships. You are not eligible for aid during a co-op semester since you are not paying tuition.

You can find a detailed report of job placement rates for Clark School graduates on our Engineering Career Services website.

It can be challenging for freshmen to find an internship since they are competing with students who have had a lot more coursework. The most important thing for your freshman year is to study hard and try to get at least a 3.0 GPA since that will help you find an internship. You may also want to join a student competition group, conduct research, with a faculty member, or do some volunteer work to gain experience for your resume. The federal government also hires high school students and college freshmen, and you can use any family/friend connections you may have. This doesn't mean you can't look for an internship right away. We just don't want you to feel bad if it doesn't work out freshman year.

You'll have an opportunity to learn about the various clubs, societies, and organizations available to you through the University's First Look Fair and the Engineering First Look Fair, both in early September each year. You can learn more about many engineering societies and clubs on our website, and many departments also share information about clubs that relate to the major.

You are still able to join any clubs and organizations that you would like. Clubs often try to work around what is convenient for commuters because that constitutes a significant portion of members.

We have several competition teams where students from all over campus collaborate on a project. Some examples are Hyperloop Team, Solar Decathlon, and Engineers Without Borders. Students can also participate in leadership programs like Hinman CEOs and QUEST, in which students work together in interdisciplinary teams.

You can find a great deal of information about University student organizations and Clark School student organizations on our website. Be sure to participate in the First Look Fair in the fall and the Second Look Fair in the spring!