How to Apply to Computer Science at the University of Maryland, College Park: Direct Admission to a Limited Enrollment Program, Very Few Later Transfer Spots and Gateway Courses, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

2026-10-18 · Application guides

Computer Science at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) is a Limited Enrollment Program. First-year applicants are considered for direct admission only if they list Computer Science as their preferred major. UMD says it is extremely unlikely that students not directly admitted can transfer into the major later: no more than 100 spots a year are expected for external and internal transfers combined, and applicants must complete three gateway courses with at least a B- in each and a 3.0 GPA, then pass a selective review. The major offers a General Track and specializations in Cybersecurity, Data Science, Machine Learning and Quantum Information. For fall 2027, the early action deadline is 1 November 2026 and SAT/ACT are optional. Based on UMD’s official information, this guide covers admission, the curriculum, transfer, fees and a checklist.

At the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), undergraduate computer science is a Bachelor of Science offered by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS). Computer Science is a Limited Enrollment Program (LEP) with limited space. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on UMD’s website, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. How first-year students get into Computer Science

Choose it on the application: list Computer Science as your preferred major on the UMD application (you may also pick a specialization) to be considered for direct admission. Choosing a specialization does not affect the decision.
Two-stage review: Admissions first decides on admission to UMD; CMNS then decides on admission to Computer Science. The three outcomes are: admitted to UMD and the major; admitted to UMD but not the major; or not admitted.
If you are not admitted to the major: you are placed in Letters & Sciences, UMD’s undeclared advising track. UMD says there is no appeal, since two holistic reviews have already taken place, and that these students must be prepared to pursue another major, such as Geospatial Data Science, Immersive Media Design, Information Science, Information Systems, Social Data Science or Technology and Information Design.
Spaces: the department FAQ says that from fall 2024 entry, direct first-year admission was increased from 450 to 600 enrolled freshmen, while spots for external and internal transfers combined were cut from 1,000 to 100 a year. The “about 600 first-year spots” on the first-year page refers to fall 2024; numbers for later years are not published.
UMD’s suggestions: take math in all four years of high school and computing courses where available; get involved in computing clubs, activities and work; take advantage of AP/IB, dual enrollment and internships; perform strongly; and show extracurriculars, research, honors and awards. UMD stresses these are suggestions, not guarantees.
Freshmen Connection: students admitted for spring may join this optional fall program, but the only CMSC course in it that counts toward the major is CMSC131. Those who want Computer Science must use the internal transfer process.

2. Transferring into Computer Science later: “extremely unlikely”

In UMD’s words: it is extremely unlikely that students not directly admitted will be able to transfer into Computer Science later.
Gateway requirements (students starting fall 2024 or later): CMSC131 or CMSC133, CMSC132 and MATH140 (Calculus I), each with at least a B-, and a GPA of at least 3.0 across all courses at UMD and other institutions. You may be taking your last gateway course when you apply, but the grade must be posted by the deadline.
Selective review: academic record, co-curricular involvement, computing research or personal projects, and college honors and awards are considered. Meeting the gateway does not guarantee admission.
Deadlines: 1 March for fall and 8 October for spring. Students finishing CMSC132 in summer cannot use the March deadline and should apply for spring.
Other rules: only one gateway course may be repeated, once, and a W counts as an attempt; you may apply to an LEP only once; adding Computer Science as a double major or double degree uses the same internal transfer process.

3. The major and curriculum

Tracks: besides the General Track, there are four specializations: Cybersecurity, Data Science, Machine Learning and Quantum Information. A specialization is optional, and changing it does not require reapplying. The department also offers majors in Artificial Intelligence and Immersive Media Design.
Lower-level requirements: MATH140 Calculus I, MATH141 Calculus II, a STAT4XX course and a MATH/STAT course (both with MATH141 as a prerequisite); Data Science, Machine Learning and Quantum Information students also need linear algebra. CS courses are CMSC131 (or CMSC133) and CMSC132 Object-Oriented Programming, CMSC216 Introduction to Computer Systems, CMSC250 Discrete Structures, CMSC330 Organization of Programming Languages and CMSC351 Algorithms.
Upper-level requirements: all tracks take 5 distributive courses from at least 3 of 5 areas (Systems, Information Processing, Software Engineering and Programming Languages, Theory, Numerical Analysis), plus 12 credits of 300–400 level courses in one discipline outside Computer Science.
Exemption exams: before starting classes, new freshmen and transfers may take exemption exams for CMSC131, CMSC132, CMSC216 and CMSC250 (up to four). UMD notes that starting at CMSC131 means at least 7 semesters to finish the major.
Benchmark reviews, described differently: the degree requirements page lists reviews at 45 and 75 credits (at 45 credits, CMSC131, CMSC132 and MATH140 at C- or better; at 75 credits, CMSC330, CMSC351 and a statistics or math course at C- or better; GPA 2.0 at both); the transfer pages describe one review after the second semester in the major or at 75 credits, whichever comes second. Directly admitted students who fail a review are dismissed from the major and may not reapply.
Combined BS/MS: undergraduates may apply for the combined program and double-count up to 9 credits of 400-level or higher courses. UMD says taking one extra graduate-credit course as an undergraduate makes it feasible to finish the 30-credit MS in one year after the BS.

4. Deadlines and application

Early Action (non-binding): 1 November 2026, with decisions by 1 February. The department strongly encourages applying by this date.
Regular: 20 January 2027, with decisions by 1 April; enrollment confirmation by 1 May.
Platform: Admissions lists the Common App or ApplyWeb; the CS first-year page (updated 2023) lists the Common App or StandOut. Follow Admissions. The USD 80 fee is non-refundable.
Test-optional: Admissions says UMD is test-optional through the spring and fall 2027 cycles.

5. Students at high schools in China

English: required, valid for two years and sent by the testing agency: TOEFL 5 on the new scale (95 on the old scale; MyBest not accepted), IELTS 7 or Duolingo 120.
Gaokao: UMD does not publish a Gaokao policy; your grade 9–12 transcripts are evaluated.
AP and IB credit: AP and IB credit can meet gateway requirements depending on score and UMD equivalency. UMD currently grants credit for AP Computer Science A (not AP Computer Science Principles) and for AP and IB Calculus. Whether A-levels can meet gateway requirements is not published.
Mathematics: the major is math-intensive, and calculus and programming start in the first year, so strong high school math helps.

6. Students at Canadian high schools

The process and deadlines are the same as above.
English waiver: native English speakers who are Canadian citizens or completed high school in Canada may be exempt; students in the Canadian French system must still test.
BC curriculum: UMD does not publish grade requirements for Canadian or BC courses.

7. External transfer students

Gateway requirements (students who start at UMD, a USM school or a Maryland community college in fall 2024 or later, and all other external transfers): CMSC131, CMSC133 or CMSC141; CMSC132 or CMSC142; and MATH140, each at B- or better, with a 3.0 GPA in all college courses. Students who started at UMD, a USM school or a Maryland community college before fall 2024 follow the earlier standard (C- in each, GPA 2.7).
Admission: applicants who have completed all gateway courses before applying to UMD are admitted directly to Computer Science on a space-available basis; those who have not are placed in Letters & Sciences and can only use the internal transfer process.
Exemption exams are not a substitute for direct admission: if your CS courses are not approved as equivalent to CMSC131 and CMSC132, passing the exemption exams meets the gateway, but you will not be considered for direct admission and must apply internally.
Credit: up to 60 credits from a community college and 90 from a four-year institution.
Deadlines: fall 1 March (priority) or 1 June (regular); spring 1 August (priority) or 15 November (regular). Foreign university transcripts need a course-by-course evaluation from ECE or JS&A.

8. Fees and scholarships

2026-27 non-resident tuition: USD 22,043 per semester, plus USD 910 per semester in full-time mandatory fees.
Differential tuition: full-time juniors and seniors in Business, Engineering and Computer Science pay an extra USD 1,687.50 per semester, regardless of residency.
Students on a UMD-issued I-20 pay a USD 125 per semester international student fee.
Total cost: UMD’s current estimate is still for 2025-26: USD 41,974 tuition and fees, USD 16,436 housing and food, and books, transport and personal costs, for about USD 62,374, excluding the differential. International students may face higher living costs.
Scholarships: CS department scholarships are for full-time students who have completed at least one semester in the major with a UMD GPA of 3.0 or higher; the 2026-27 application has closed.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

List Computer Science as your preferred major and apply Early Action by 1 November
TOEFL 5 (new) or 95 (old), IELTS 7 or Duolingo 120; SAT/ACT optional
If not directly admitted, be ready to pursue another major; later transfer spots are very limited
Budget for non-resident tuition and living costs, plus USD 1,687.50 per semester differential from junior year

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

Same deadlines; native English speakers who completed high school in Canada may be exempt from English tests (except the French system)

Transfer students:

Before applying, complete courses equivalent to CMSC131 and CMSC132 plus MATH140, each at B- or better, with a 3.0 GPA
Fall deadline 1 March (priority) or 1 June

Sources: University of Maryland, College Park, CS first-year applicants; CS LEP FAQ; CS degree requirements; Internal transfer applicants; External transfer applicants; Combined BS/MS; CS scholarships; Limited Enrollment Programs; Freshman applicants; Application deadlines; English language proficiency; Transfer applicants; Cost of attendance; 2026-27 undergraduate tuition. The CS first-year applicant page was last updated in October 2023 and some figures refer to fall 2024. Check the University of Maryland for the latest details.