The University System of Maryland, (USM) a public corporation and a charter system, is one of the State's most valuable assets and adds immeasurably to the quality of life in Maryland. The nation's 12^th largest university system, USM's network of 11 degree granting and two research institutions enrolls nearly 130,000 students worldwide in 600 degree programs delivered in classrooms, laboratories, education centers, and online. USM's nationally ranked programs, leading-edge research collaborations, and innovative business partnerships provide opportunities that prepare students for both the promises and demands of the new century.  Additional information is available through the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

Bowie State University
Bowie State University is located on a scenic 312-acre tract in northern Prince George’s County. The liberal arts institution in the Annapolis-Baltimore-Washington triangle is near many historical and educational opportunities. Nineteen undergraduate majors including computer science, business administration, teacher education, pedology, and communications media are offered. Graduate programs include computer science, management information systems, counseling psychology, administrative management, human resource development, and Adlerian psychology; the (ADI) Alder-Dreikurs Institute; and a doctoral program in Educational Leadership/Executive Fellows. Students may enroll in day, evening, or weekend classes on the main campus or at one of the University Extended Studies Centers including Ft. George Meade, Andrews Air Force Base, Shady Grove, Olney, the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center, Andrew Jackson Middle School, and Maryland National Guard sites.

Coppin State University
A four-year residential liberal arts institution, Coppin State University offers programs in the arts and sciences and in professional and pre-professional areas. Academic program offerings include biology, chemistry, mathematics and computer science, criminal justice and law enforcement, early childhood education, elementary education, English, general science, global studies, history, liberal arts, management science and economics, media arts (English), nursing, psychology, rehabilitation services, social science, special education, sports management, and urban arts production. Through collaborative arrangements with other institutions, students may also pursue majors in engineering, pharmacy, dentistry, and human services administration. Facilities include two state-of-the art residence halls, a TV studio, computer laboratories, a college center, and an expanded library. The health, physical education, and recreation complex houses equipment and activities for student development and the promotion of wellness.

Frostburg State University
Frostburg State University offers 37 undergraduate majors and 10 master’s degree programs. Its beautiful 260-acre campus in the Maryland mountains is 150 miles west of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Largely residential in nature, it also serves as the region’s premiere educational and cultural center. Facilities include a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center, fully equipped physical education center, computer labs, and the largest reference library in western Maryland. The student/faculty ratio is 17-1 and 85 percent of faculty have terminal degrees in their fields. Honors program are available. Frostburg offers strong programs in the liberal arts, education, business administration, computer science, and environmental studies along with extensive student services, cultural events, and Division III sports.

Salisbury University
Salisbury University, rated one of the Northeast’s best public regional universities by U.S. News and World Report, offers 31 undergraduate majors and eight master’s programs. Salisbury has four multi-million-dollar endowed schools, a rarity among public institutions: the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business, the Richard A. Henson School of Science and Technology, the Charles R. and Martha N. Fulton School of Liberal Arts, and the Samuel W. and Marilyn C. Seidel School of Education and Professional Studies. Salisbury also offers an honors program for its top scholars and individual attention for all students.

Towson University
Founded in 1866, Towson University is the second-largest school in the University System of Maryland. Organized into eight colleges, the university enrolls nearly 19,000 students in more than 100 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences, and applied professional fields. Towson participates in 20 NCAA Division I athletic programs. Located in suburban Towson, eight miles north of Baltimore, the university's 328-acre campus offers a pleasant environment for study and a diverse campus life, as well as easy access to a wealth of university and community resources. As a metropolitan university, Towson combines research-based learning with practical application. The university's many interdisciplinary partnerships with public and private organizations throughout Maryland provide opportunities for research, internships and jobs.

University of Baltimore
The University of Baltimore is Maryland's only upper-division and graduate university. Bachelor’s degrees and specializations in the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts and the Merrick School of Business include accounting, applied information technology, business administration, corporate communications, criminal justice, English, forensic studies, government and public policy, health systems management, history, human services administration, interdisciplinary studies, jurisprudence, marketing, management, psychology, and women’s studies. Master’s degrees include the MBA, the MPA (Master of Public Administration), Applied Psychology, Human Services Administration, Criminal Justice, Negotiations and Conflict Management, Taxation, M.A. in Legal and Ethical Studies, and Publications Design. Also offered are doctoral programs in Communications Design, Public Administration, and Psychology. The School of Law offers the J.D. with various concentrations as well as an L.L.M. in Taxation. The university also offers a number of certificate and joint programs.

University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)
Founded in 1807, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is Maryland's public academic health, human services and law university devoted to excellence in professional and graduate education, research, patient care, and public service. Located on 60+ acres in 58 buildings in the west side of downtown Baltimore, UMB offers 12 degrees through six nationally ranked professional schools–dental, law, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and social work, and an interdisciplinary graduate school. The School of Public Health opened in 2006. Together with its major partners located on the campus–the University of Maryland Medical Center, the Institute of Human Virology, the Veterans Administration Hospital and the UMB BioPark–the University provides an ideal setting for research, clinical practice and commercialization of biomedical innovations. Areas of research excellence include biodefense, cancer, drug development, HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases, neuroscience, vaccine development and vascular biology.

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
UMBC is a contemporary 500-acre campus, 15 minutes from downtown Baltimore, and convenient to Washington, D.C., Annapolis, and the BWI Thurgood Marshall airport. A medium-sized research university with a diverse community, UMBC maintains a strong undergraduate curriculum, with 33 programs anchored in the liberal arts and sciences, and opportunities for involvement in faculty research. The Shriver Center offers students a number of professional practice and community service programs, both locally and abroad, to enrich their academic experience. UMBC offers 30 Master's and 22 doctoral programs focused in the sciences, engineering, and public policy, some of which are conducted with the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB).

University of Maryland, College Park   (UMCP)
UMCP is a nationally recognized public research university and the state’s flagship institution. Founded in 1856, the university is known for its star faculty, extraordinary undergraduate and graduate education, prominence in research, state-of-the-art facilities, and success in Division I athletics. The most selective of the universities in the system, UMCP is located on a beautiful 1,200-acre campus in the thriving Washington-Baltimore technology corridor. Ranked among the nation’s top 25 in more than 60 academic programs such as business, engineering, computer science, physics, journalism, education, government and politics, and public affairs, the university serves the state's and nation’s most talented students.

University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)
UMES is the 1890 Land-Grant institution for the State. As such, it maintains a legacy of a historically black institution that offers equal education opportunity to all students. Degree programs are offered in liberal arts and sciences, agriculture, business, technology, education, environmental and marine science, allied health, and hospitality. The university offers majors programs leading to the B.A. and B.S. degrees in 32 disciplines in the arts and sciences, professional studies, and agricultural sciences. In addition, UMES offers 15 teaching degree programs, pre-professional programs, and a Honors Program designed in cooperation with UMB and UMCP College of Veterinary Medicine to prepare students for professional studies.  Marine-Estuarine and Environmental Sciences and Toxicology are offered at M.S. and Ph.D. levels.

University of Maryland University College (UMUC)
UMUC is one of 11 degree granting institutions of the University System of Maryland. It extends the resources of the university to adult students who pursue higher education on a part-time basis. The curriculum, scheduling of classes, registration procedures, and student services have all been designed to create a supportive academic environment for busy adults. Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs are offered in a variety of specialized areas. UMUC also offers a wide range of non-credit short courses, conferences, institutes, seminars, and training programs. UMUC operates a 4-year residential campus for international students in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany and joint degree programs with two Russian universities in that nation.

Additional education data for states, Maryland counties and major metro areas can be found in the Comparisons Tool .