The University of Maryland's excellence is the result of our collective efforts – across divisions, colleges and schools, and in the community. An important part of implementing Fearlessly Forward is telling our stories and tracking our progress. We launched our strategic planning process in 2021. Since then, we’ve seen tremendous progress in key areas of impact. A selection of qualitative and quantitative measures are highlighted on this page, and our exciting progress is captured in our annual progress report.
How We're Moving Fearlessly Forward
Apr 17
2026
Grant Cycle Focused on Deepening Faculty Engagement in Data-Driven Pedagogical Enhancements
Apr 7
2026
Record Number of UMD Fellows Intern With Maryland General Assembly
Mar 4
2026
82 Projects Receive Research Resilience Initiatives Funding Through UMD, MPower
Feb 26
2026
Core Faculty Hires Bring Expertise in Philosophy, Computer Science, Public Health, Bioengineering, Government and Politics
Feb 18
2026
Fearlessly Forward Awards Recognize Dedication, Innovation
Feb 16
2026
$30M Investment in UMD Research Advances Solutions to Societal Issues, Brings in $55M in External Funding
Feb 13
2026
New Graduate Student Housing Will Accelerate Interdisciplinary Research, Mentorship and Professional Impact
Jan 20
2026
External Funding From First Round Nearly Doubled UMD’s Investment in Solving Societal Problems
Jan 14
2026
Prestigious National Designation Recognizes UMD’s Excellence in Community-Engaged Teaching, Research and Service
Nov 20
2025
UMD, MPower Funds Combine to Help Preserve Institutional Capabilities, Lab Operations and More
Oct 27
2025
TLTC’s New ‘GenAI-Informed Pedagogy’ Track Has Already Guided Hundreds of Instructors
Sep 29
2025
First Cohort of UMB, UMCP MPower Professors to Continue Health Care Innovation
Sep 24
2025
Pines, Daumé Join International Leaders, Tech Pioneers to Discuss AI’s Impact on Education and More
Sep 10
2025
Awards for 48 Projects Fund Implementation of Universal Design for Learning Principles
Aug 19
2025
Chronicle of Higher Education Recognizes Efforts to Support Students With Highest Financial Need
Jul 8
2025
New Study Finds That UMD Graduates High Numbers of Students in Quantum Science, AI and Other STEM Ph.D.s
Jul 8
2025
Study-Abroad Opportunities for Students With Financial Need Rank Among Top 5 Nationally
Jun 30
2025
Smith School Grad Students Conduct Research for Comptroller’s Office
Jun 29
2025
UMD and the State of Maryland Make a Billion-Dollar Bid to Anchor a Scientific and Commercial Revolution
Jun 23
2025
Jun 17
2025
Partnership Will Amplify USM’s Role in Upskilling Maryland’s Current, Future Workforces
Jun 11
2025
State, Business, University Leaders Convene to Discuss AI, Quantum Tech
May 28
2025
Funds Support Research Focused on Accessibility, Social Justice, Sustainability and Learning
May 13
2025
Funding to Support Additional Research Directions, Undergraduate Program
May 12
2025
Gift to Maryland Democracy Initiative Supports Political Engagement, Literacy Efforts
May 6
2025
Funds Administered by AIM to Support Classes in Arts and Humanities, Public Health, Behavioral and Social Sciences, and Information Science
Apr 30
2025
New Program Embedding Civic Learning in Classes Across Campus Reaches Over 1,000 Students
Apr 29
2025
In XPRIZE Competition, Students, Faculty Design Autonomous Drone System to Detect, Suppress Wildfires
Apr 28
2025
DARPA Partners With Maryland to Drive Quantum Innovation, Strengthen ‘Capital of Quantum’
Apr 24
2025
$40K Competition Celebrates Students Creating Social Impact on Global Challenges
Apr 23
2025
Apr 21
2025
University of Maryland changes how students learn to build real-world, tech-ready skills
Apr 21
2025
6 Student Teams to Demonstrate How They ‘Do Good’ in Pitch Competition
Apr 15
2025
Funding Supports Faculty, Students, Staff Driving Positive Change on Campus and Beyond
Apr 7
2025
ARLIS Launches Maryland Institute for Quantum Applications in Discovery District
Mar 27
2025
Website Features Career Development Tools, Entrepreneurial Support
Feb 6
2025
Faculty Pursuing Collaborative Work on Pressing Issues Awarded $150K
Feb 5
2025
Fearlessly Forward Awards Celebrate Staff Members Across Campus
Jan 28
2025
New series of programs and resources will support faculty and staff supervisors
Jan 17
2025
AI tools are part of the ways that we teach, learn and work right here on campus
Jan 14
2025
Strategic Partnership Aims to Cement State, D.C. Region as World-Leading Quantum Science and Innovation Hub
Nov 14
2024
Planned Faculty Expansion Among Largest in University History
Oct 28
2024
Dozens of Projects Completed on 13th Annual Celebration of Community Partnership
Oct 11
2024
UMD Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Interactive Exhibit Inspiring Service
Oct 4
2024
Awards recognize staff members who exemplify a Fearlessly Forward attitude
Oct 3
2024
New Round of Campus Grants to Award Up to $320K for Student, Faculty, Staff Projects
Sep 4
2024
Efforts Empower Terps to Prioritize Well-being and Thrive in a Supportive Environment
May 2
2024
Revolutionary Technology Must Embrace Values and Variety of Perspectives
Apr 17
2024
Awards for 24 Projects Fund Use of AI, Gamification and More in the Classroom
Apr 9
2024
Institute Will Support Interdisciplinary Research and Education That Promote Responsible Use of AI and Prepare Future Workforce for AI-Infused World
Feb 8
2024
Tania Mitchell to Lead New Center, Support Research, Teaching, Learning and Service
Feb 7
2024
The research group discusses its latest work, including discoveries by its research team, summer and fall interns, and community historians.
Jan 25
2024
Employees Across Campus Receive New Terrapin Innovation and MVP Impact Awards
Dec 12
2023
We are committed to taking action and continuing to make progress in areas important to our graduate students
Nov 17
2023
Professors Each Awarded $150,000 Over Three Years to Support Collaborative Work
Nov 9
2023
New Initiative Will Offer Research, Actionable Solutions to National Crisis
Oct 4
2023
xFoundry@UMD to Recruit Terps for Courses, Competition, Venture Investment
Sep 28
2023
At International Conference, President Pitches Vision of Future Enhanced by UMD-Led Research
Sep 22
2023
We have made progress in developing programs centered around recognition, career advancement and professional development.
Sep 20
2023
$20M Investment From UMD Will Create National Quantum Lab in Discovery District
Nov 17
2023
The Office will collaborate with students, faculty and staff across departments to broaden the culture and community around undergraduate research
Sep 15
2023
The University of Maryland has created a new branch of its Fellows Program to prepare undergraduates for careers in local and state public service.
Sep 7
2023
UMD is seeking proposals to support effective, engaging and inclusive learning experiences that prepare students to navigate a technology-rich world.
May 5
2023
The Center will ensure that community engagement is woven into the very fabric, values, and identity of the institution.
Apr 20
2023
Quantum Investment Event Focuses on Building Thriving Business Infrastructure Around Revolutionary Technology
Mar 1
2023
University Research Consortium Co-led by Pines Releases Recommendations on Curbing Gun Violence
Feb 1
2024
Jan 31
2023
Five-session Program to Explore Historical Connections Between Slavery, Universities
Nov 30
2022
UMD Leadership Based on Research, Innovation, Problem-Solving Fearlessness, He Tells Audience
Nov 22
2022
Center for the Study and Practice of Violence Reduction Focuses on Actionable Solutions Rooted in Research
Nov 7
2022
Each Awarded $150K to Pursue Collaborative Research on Major Societal Challenges
Oct 24
2022
Terrapin Commitment Program to Expand Support for Pell Grant-Eligible, In-State Students
Oct 10
2022
UMD Expands Its Footprint as the ‘Capital of Quantum’ With the Latest Lab and Institute to Advance Mind-bending Computing
Sep 27
2022
New UMD Program to Support Campuswide Efforts to Tackle Societal Problems
Sep 12
2022
$2.7M in New Grants to Support Experiential Learning
Jul 22
2022
UMD, George Mason Presidents Announce Research Initiative to Stem Rising Toll of Shootings
Jun 16
2022
The university has launched a survey and will host virtual campus conversations for staff members to inform a new staff investment plan.
Apr 21
2022
Up to $30M Will Launch Cross-Disciplinary Centers and Institutes, Support Innovative Research
Apr 4
2022
Strategic Plan Initiative to Reimagine Learning Aims to Maximize Teaching Impact in All Disciplines
Feb 21
2022
Initiative Studying UMD’s Ties to Slavery to Hold Listening Sessions This Week
We Take on Humanity's Grand Challenges
Our education, research, scholarship and creative activities, and service are designed to accelerate solutions to humanity’s grand challenges—within our communities and around the globe.
Research and scholarly activity expenditures
|
Expenditures 2021 |
Expenditures 2025 |
|---|---|
| $536M | $713M |
33%
Increase in expenditures
New and expanded partnerships through the Grand Challenges Grants program
|
Partnerships 2023 (program launch year) |
Partnerships 2025 |
|---|---|
| 200 | 450 |
125%
Increase in partnerships
Startups created from UMD research
|
Cumulative number of startups 2021 |
Cumulative number of startups 2025 |
|---|---|
| 60 | 81 |
35%
Increase in startups created
U.S. patents issued to UMD faculty, staff, and student inventors through UM Ventures
|
Cumulative Number of Patents 2021 |
Cumulative Number of Patents 2025 |
|---|---|
| 971 | 1,289 |
33%
Increase in patents
We Reimagine Learning
We reimagine learning and teaching as inclusive, experiential, publicly engaged, creative, integrative, holistic, and empowering.
Students winning nationally competitive awards and scholarships
|
Number of Students 2021 |
Number of Students 2025 |
|---|---|
| 73 | 124 |
70%
Percent increase in students
Defined as: Awards identified and coordinated through the National Scholarship Office. Awards must be nationally competitive and sponsored by agencies that are members of the National Association of Fellowship Advisors or comparable organizations.
Expanded accessible, flexible, and learner-centered environments through the Learning Environment Modernization program
|
Cumulative Projects Completed 2021 |
Cumulative Projects Completed 2025 |
|---|---|
| 38 | 178 |
368%
increase in projects completed
General-purpose classrooms meeting Section 503 accessibility requirements
|
Fully ADA Accessible GPCs 2021 |
Fully ADA Accessible GPCs 2025 |
|---|---|
| 326 | 331 |
GPCs that meet accessibility requirements
99%
We Invest in People and Communities
We invest in people, their well-being and advancement, and the conditions that support their ability to fully participate and thrive in our community, state, and world.
Average need-based aid to undergraduate students with financial need
|
Average Aid Awarded 2021 |
Average Aid Awarded 2025 |
|---|---|
| $10,599 | $17,425 |
64%
Increase in average aid awarded
Defined as: Average need-based scholarship and grant award for full-time undergraduates awarded any need-based aid for the academic years 2020-21 and 2023-24.
Number of students who receive federal Pell Grants
|
Number of students 2021 |
Number of students 2025 |
|---|---|
| 5,448 | 7,277 |
34%
Increase in Pell Grant recipients
Four-year graduation rate for new first-time students
|
4-Year graduation rate 2021 (fall 2017 cohort) |
4-Year graduation rate 2025 (fall 2021 cohort) |
|---|---|
| 76% | 80% |
4%
Percentage point increase in graduation rate
Six-year graduation rate for new first-time students
|
6-Year graduation rate 2021 (fall 2015 cohort) |
6-Year graduation rate 2025 (fall 2019 cohort) |
|---|---|
| 88.4% | 88.6% |
0%
Percentage point increase in graduation rate
We Partner to Advance the Public Good
We will create and sustain partnerships that allow our research to have impact locally and globally, our education to prepare students for civic engagement and impact, and our service to create solutions for a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient world.
Economic impact in the state of Maryland
|
Economic Impact 2021 |
Economic Impact 2025 |
|---|---|
| $3.16B | $3.7B |
17%
Increase in economic impact on the State of Maryland
Number of all undergraduate students enrolled at UMD from Prince George's County and Baltimore City
|
Number of Students 2021 |
Number of Students 2025 |
|---|---|
| 2,957 | 3,577 |
21%
increase in students enrolled
We Move Fearlessly Forward
To improve the lives of every person on Earth, we will reimagine teaching and learning; accelerate solutions to the grand challenges of our time through creativity and discovery; and forge a diverse and inclusive community where our differences are celebrated and equity is relentlessly pursued.
Our preeminence as a top ranked national research university by U.S. News & World Report
|
U.S. Public Ranking 2021 |
U.S. Public Ranking 2025 |
|---|---|
| 20 | 16 |
25%
Gain in numeric ranks
UMD programs ranked in the Top 25 nationally by U.S. News & World Report
|
Number of top 25 programs 2021 |
Number of top 25 programs 2025 |
|---|---|
| 67 | 69 |
3%
Increase in top 25 programs
Number of faculty elected into National Academies
|
Number of national academy members 2021 |
Number of national academy members 2025 |
|---|---|
| 62 | 84 |
35%
Increase in number of faculty
Defined as: National Academy (Engineering, Science, Medicine, Education, Public Administration, Inventors); American Academy of Arts and Sciences. As of Dec. 31 of each year.
Number of faculty receiving select awards and honorifics
|
Cumulative number of awards and honorifics 2021 |
Cumulative number of awards and honorifics 2025 |
|---|---|
| 542 | 641 |
18%
Increase in select awards and honorifics
Defined as: National Academy (Engineering, Science, Medicine, Education, Public Administration, Inventors); American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Pulitzer Prize; Fulbright, Guggenheim, Sloan, and NEH fellowships; American Association for the Advancement of Science; NSF PECASE; Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards; MacArthur Genius/Fellow; Fields Medal; Weiner Prize; National Medal of Science or Technology. Years are the award year or, in the case of Fulbright, the spring of the award year. As of Dec. 31 of each year.
FEARLESSLY FORWARD IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE AND IMPACT FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD: THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND STRATEGIC PLAN is a living document and will evolve and grow as we do. Please visit this site to follow our progress as we move fearlessly forward.