Our University

Since its founding in 1966, UMBC has ascended in the national rankings, gaining recognition as one of the top public research universities in the nation for innovation, teaching, and providing students of all backgrounds a truly supportive environment. UMBC has redefined excellence in higher education, making “inclusive excellence” not just an aspiration but an imperative for each of us.

What truly sets UMBC apart, though, is how we do what we do. It’s not just about doing things well. It’s about empowering our community members to live our ideals and enact change for good through the advancement of knowledge, economic prosperity, and social justice.

A large room of college students eat together beneath a ceiling full of international flags.
“My job is to help every single one of our faculty, student, staff, community members maximize their experience and become who they want to become to make this world a better place.”
– Valerie Sheares Ashby, UMBC President

 

“Inclusive Excellence” is the value that guides all of us.

  • With students from more than 100 countries, and a record number of Fulbrights among our students and faculty, we are proud to truly be a global community. Read More
  • We are #1 in the nation in producing Black graduates who go on to earn Ph.D.s in natural sciences and engineering, and Black graduates who go on to earn M.D./Ph.D. degrees. Read More
  • Women leaders from UMBC, Morgan State, and UMD receive $3M Mellon grant to diversify senior leadership in higher ed. Read More
  • As a member of the University Innovation Alliance, we are using a data-driven approach to eliminate disparities in educational outcomes based on race and ethnicity. Read More
  • As a federally recognized Minority Serving Institution, we back up our ideals with programs that support our minority and first-generation students. Read More
A group of student men and women in business casual clothing pose with Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to celebrate their Mock Trial win. They are holding up a large certificate at the center of the group.
“What a beautiful day to win a national championship!”
– Sydney Gaskins ’21, UMBC Mock Trial Team President

When UMBC makes history, the world takes notice.

  • UMBC’s Mock Trial team stunned Yale to win the 2021 Mock Trial National Championships. Read More
  • Meyerhoff alumna Kizzmekia Corbett ’08 will go down in history for leading the effort to solve the COVID-19 pandemic. We were thrilled to see her named a TIME magazine Hero of the Year for 2021. Read More
  • Alumna Adrienne A. Jones ‘76, psychology, made history in 2019 when she was unanimously voted Maryland’s Speaker of the House. Jones–who served as Speaker Pro Tem since 2003, and a delegate since 1997–is both the first Black legislator and the first woman to serve in this role. Read more.
  • Underdogs no more, our Retriever basketball team shocked the world in 2018 when its defeat of UVA, making our team the first men’s 16-seed to take down a number one seed in the NCAA championships. Read More
Hundreds of students in gold-colored t-shirts gather on a field to create the shape 'UMBC' with their bodies.
“I’ve never had so many people on my team before, pushing me to achieve something I’m pursuing.”
– Sam Patterson ’21, M29, UMBC’s second Rhodes Scholar

Community is at the heart of everything we do.

  • Students, faculty, staff and alums all pitched in to welcome UMBC’s largest-ever first year class of nearly 2,100 students for fall 2021! Read More
  • Our researchers truly care about Baltimore and our surrounding neighbors, and that drives how they think about community-engaged work. Read More
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, our resilient Retrievers near and far pitched in to help everywhere from the front lines to sewing masks in their homes. Read More
  • The Chronicle of Higher Education has named UMBC one of the best colleges to work for for ten years running. Read More
  • Times Higher Education has recognized UMBC as one of the top universities in the U.S. and the world, as well as a leader in global social and economic impact. Read More
UMBC campus at nighttime while celebrating the university's 50th anniversary with a huge crowd and sky of fireworks.
“UMBC taught me how to navigate, and how in many ways to marshal relationships, brilliance, and grit to really make things happen.”
– Alicia Wilson ’04, Vice President for Economic Development, Johns Hopkins University

When we reach together, Retriever Nation is ready for anything.

  • UMBC sets the standard in 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings. This year’s rankings affirm UMBC as among the best in both undergraduate teaching and innovation, and distinguished in several other key areas. Read More
  • UMBC has officially reached the nation’s highest level of research performance. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education has placed UMBC into the category of doctoral universities with very high research activity, popularly known as Research 1 (or R1). UMBC is now ranked as one of only 146 R1 institutions nationally, including 107 public and 39 private universities. Read More
  • Supported by ACE Fellowships and other mentoring, UMBC is nurturing emerging leaders from all backgrounds of study. We can’t wait to see what they do. Read More
  • Now more than 85,000 alumni strong, Retriever Nation is breaking barriers and helping the next generation find their way. Read More
  • Even amidst the most challenging times, UMBC’s Grit & Greatness campaign is poised to support our community for decades to come. Read More

Stay in the loop about exciting UMBC news by subscribing to our weekly Top Stories newsletter.