Welcome, parents!
Sending your son or daughter to college is exciting, but it can also be a bit overwhelming. Here at the University of Baltimore, we have all the resources and support you need to feel confident about joining the UBalt family.
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Can we afford to go to UBalt?
As a public institution, UBalt is very affordable, if we do say so ourselves. Our full-time, in-state tuition for the 2020-21 academic year is around $9,000 a year.
Learn more about tuition and fees, including out-of-state rates. Questions? Your best point of contact is the Office of the Bursar, which handles all things tuition, including many of our payment plan options.
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What about scholarships and financial aid?
We offer merit scholarships to qualified students:
- First-time undergraduates need to have at least a 2.75 GPA and a 980 SAT (or 18 ACT) to be considered for a scholarship.
- Transfer students need to have a cumulative 3.0 GPA and 30 credits to be considered for a scholarship. A student who has an associate degree may receive additional money. Transfer Students may also be eligible for The Bob Parsons Scholarship Fund, which could help students earn their bachelor's for free.
The better the academic profile, the more scholarship dollars we award. International students, DACA recipients and "Dreamers" may be eligible for these scholarships.
UBalt awards financial aid—loans, grants and federal work-study—based on completion of the FAFSA. If you haven’t already completed the FAFSA, please do so. (UBalt’s school code is 002102.) The FAFSA is available on Oct. 1 for the next academic year and should be completed before March 1 for full consideration; a new FAFSA is required for each academic year.
If all documentation is received, we usually begin awarding financial aid in March for the fall semester and November for the spring semester. Review your financial aid award at MyUB.
Learn more or contact UBalt's Office of Financial Aid at 410.837.4763.
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Is UBalt accredited?
Accreditation is the process by which an institution receives approval from a governing board to operate; it is required to receive federal financial aid.
UBalt is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. We received a 10-year renewal in June 2017. UBalt is also approved to operate in the state by the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
We also maintain programmatic accreditation with the American Bar Association; the Association of American Law Schools; the Academy of Criminal Justice Science; the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business; the Association of University Programs in Health Administration; and the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration.
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What does it mean to be a public institution?
UBalt, one of 13 public degree-granting institutions in the state, is part of the University System of Maryland (USM). Being a public institution means that we have to abide by rules and policies set forth by the state legislature and by the USM Board of Regents. This oversight ensures that our academic programs, mission, goals and outcomes are all aligned with the state's workforce needs. It also means you're getting a good value for your money. Finally, it means that your UBalt student has access to statewide resources, including the USM library system, and the ability to take classes at other USM institutions. -
What will the academic experience be like?
Students attending UBalt are taught by highly qualified faculty, all of whom have experience in the field or topic they are teaching. Because we are focused on career preparation and advancement, many of our professors currently work during the day and teach in the evenings, on weekends or online. We pride ourselves on a curriculum that engages students, promotes internships and capstone coursework, pushes boundaries and helps student succeed toward whatever their goals might be.
UBalt freshmen are part of a pathway: like-minded students who are working toward one of five areas or fields of study. These pathways are designed to build community, to offer focused career advising and opportunities, and to structure classroom assignments and expectations with the end goal in mind. For the first two semesters, students will take three classes, or 9 credits, with other students in their pathway. Once they reach 30 credits, students will then declare a major and begin taking coursework with other students.
Transfer students will spend their time at UBalt in major-related, general education and elective courses. Their adviser will help them set up a plan and schedule that maximizes past college credits, work or life schedule and future goals.
All students benefit from small class sizes (max is usually 30 students), flexible scheduling, online opportunities and much more.
Students need 120 credits to graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UBalt. For some students and for some programs, accelerated options into graduate programs or the UBalt School of Law are an option. These options can save you both time and money, upwards of $9,000, by allowing you to apply undergraduate courses toward your graduate degree. Ask your adviser for more information.
To help students succeed, we require program-specific academic advising upon entry into the University, and then at the 30, 45, 60, and 90 credit marks. This engaged form of advising ensures students are on the right path to degree completion, and helps support both their academic and personal needs.
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What does my student need to do to apply?
Students need to complete the online application (which includes the Maryland Residency Form) and submit a few documents to be reviewed for admission:
- For freshmen students with fewer than 30 earned college credits, those documents include an official high school transcript and SAT/ACT scores. Students out of high school for more than three years do not need to submit SAT or ACT scores.
- Transfer students with at least 30 earned or in-progress credits need to submit official transcripts from each previously attended institution.
- International students, and some others, will need a Transcript Evaluation and English Language Proficiency.
- All students (with their parents' help) should submit the FAFSA form.
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Does UBalt have a test optional program?
University of Baltimore will be test score optional for freshmen admission consideration for fall 2021 enrollment.Contact a personal admission counselor for additional information and plan to attend one of our information sessions.
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What is residency?
Because UBalt is a state institution, we need to verify that a student is an in-state or out-of-state resident. In-state students pay lower tuition, since we also receive money from the state to cover the cost of attendance. There are a handful of requirements, set forth by Maryland statute, which must be met to qualify for in-state residency. Any student who does not complete the residency form will automatically be placed in the out-of-state category. -
My student’s citizenship is either DACA or "Dreamer"; is he or she eligible to enroll at UBalt?
Yes, UBalt admits both DACA recipients and "Dreamer" students. Additionally, we award merit-based scholarships to all eligible students. -
What are the deadlines for admission?
For freshmen, applications are encouraged by Jan. 1 for the fall semester. Students applying for the spring semester should apply by Dec. 1. Decisions are made on a rolling basis. For transfer students, students are encouraged to complete their application by Jan. 1 for spring , May 15 for summer and Aug. 1 for fall. Applying by these deadlines will ensure enough time to complete the admission process, meet with an academic adviser and register prior to the first day of classes. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. The UBalt School of Law has its own application deadline.
International students are eligible for fall and spring start dates. Students currently residing outside of the United States should apply well before the stated deadlines to allow time for the visa application process. -
How will my student get more information? What is MyUB?
Once a student applies for admission, he or she will receive information about logging into MyUB, which is our online student portal. Within MyUB, students will be able to see the status of their admission decision and whether additional documentation is needed. They can also accept/decline their admission (and, for freshmen, pay their seat deposit!), see how courses or exams transferred, find out about placement testing and their academic adviser, review and accept/decline financial aid, register for class, pay their bill and more.
Once admitted, students will receive nearly all communications via UBalt email, which they can also access through MyUB. It is VERY important that this email be checked regularly.
Please note: Under FERPA and UBalt policy, at the post-secondary educational level parents have no inherent rights of access to their student’s academic records. Information from educational records may be released to parents only if the student has signed the Record Release Form, a written release giving the parent(s) access to a specific record, or in compliance with a lawfully issued subpoena.
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Where will my student live?
We don’t own University housing like many other institutions. But given our amazing location in downtown Baltimore, there are plenty of opportunities for students to live in their own apartments or with a roommate. Our housing website provides a list of local apartments.
Many of our students also commute to save money. UBalt is conveniently located near the MARC train, the Light Rail, the subway and multiple bus routes. We also have two parking garages with student parking plans available.
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Where in Baltimore is UBalt? Is it a safe campus?
UBalt is located in the heart of Baltimore's Mount Vernon Cultural District, which also houses colleges (MICA, UBalt and Johns Hopkins' Peabody Institute) residences and businesses. The area is always bustling with a lively mix of students, residents, commuters and others. And as a longstanding community partner, UBalt takes pride in contributing to the safety of not only the campus but also the neighborhood through the work of the UBalt Police Department. The UBPD serves as an invaluable resource, monitoring campus and the surrounding area 24/7, providing escorts if someone feels unsafe and offering friendly, reliable faces your student will come to know and trust. UBalt also offers a free shuttle around campus as well as key card-controlled buildings, which means they're accessible only by students, faculty and staff with a valid UBalt ID.
All institutions are required to release an annual report about security and crime on their campus. UBalt's report is a good read— and shows exactly why our campus continues to be named one of the safest campuses in the University System of Maryland.
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How do I know my student will be supported?
- Our academic programs and services include individual academic advising, a Career and Internship Center, the Office of Disability and Access Services, tutors, writing consultation, the Mathematics Learning Center, academic coaching, workshops, mentoring, technology help and computer labs.
- Our ever-growing social environment includes the Henry and Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg Center for Student Engagement and Inclusion, more than 50 student clubs and organizations, The Bob Parsons Veterans Center, the Office of International Services, Diversity and International Services and the Baltimore Collegetown Network (14 area colleges and universities sharing programming, sports and much more).
- A Student Assistance Program (SAP) provides comprehensive mental health and wellness services. Professionals are available around the clock to offer information, resources and referrals for a wide spectrum of matters, including personal counseling, family concerns, substance concerns, and legal and financial consulting.
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What else should I know about UBalt?
Here are some of our favorite facts and figures to help you make a decision:
- 86% of baccalaureate graduates seeking employment were employed within three months of graduation.
- UBalt ranks in the top 11 percent nationally—and No. 2 in Maryland—for advancing the economic and social mobility of students.
- The University has ranked consistently between first and third in campus safety among Maryland public universities since 2008.
- The University continues to be the most ethnic/racially balanced institution among Maryland public four-year institutions.
- The median undergraduate age is 25-29 years old.
- 91% of first-time full-time UBalt undergraduate students are awarded some form of financial aid (non-loan).
- Total enrollment at UBalt is 5,565 students, 2,949 of whom are undergraduates.
- Our student body is 40% male and 60% female.
- 55% of our student population is classified as under-represented minorities, and 46% are first-generation college students.
- UBalt students represent more than 90 countries.
- UBalt has more than 50,000 alumni, more than 40,000 of whom still live in Maryland.
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Can I meet with someone to have a further conversation?
Absolutely! Our admission counselors are available to meet with you. We can accommodate most meeting times - to set up a virtual meeting, please contact the Office of Admission at 410.837.4777 or admission@ubalt.edu.