NEXT WEEK: PAYING FOR COLLEGE A S P E C I A L S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E G A Z E T T E Wednesday & Thursday, October 19 & 20, 2011 Small State. Big Schools. Diverse Options Color Marylands College Landscape B Y K AREN F INUCAN C LARKSON W hats distinctive about Maryland is that its a small state with the educa- tional alternatives of big states, says George LaNoue, professor of political science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Its hard to think of a category of institution that doesnt exist here. With 76 public and private colleges and universities serv- ing undergraduate and graduate students, Maryland has a richness of institutions and an array of programs that support the success of both students and the states economy, says Sue A. Blanshan, director of Academic Affairs for the Mary- land Higher Education Commission (MHEC). In fall 2009, more than 166,500 undergraduate and 27,300 graduate students attended school full time in Mary- land, according to the MHEC. Of those enrolled, about 38 percent attended a public two-year institution, 45 percent went to a public four-year institution, and 17 percent attend- ed an independent institution. THOSE FIGURES DO NOT INCLUDE THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY (USNA) WHICH HAS ABOUT 4,600 students. Located in Annapolis, USNA is the most selective school in the state, admitting just 8 percent of applicants, and has the lowest percentage of Maryland residents in attendance, according to The College Board. Five percent of the student body is from the state. The academy is highly regarded. U.S. News & World Report puts it at the top of its list of public na- tional liberal arts colleges, tied with the United States Military Academy (a.k.a.West Point), and ranks it 14thtied West Point and Vassaramong all the nations liberal arts schools. Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore also continues to rank among the countrys best national universities, coming in 13th on U.S. News 2012 list of best national universities. Hopkins students boast the highest average SAT scores in Maryland, with the middle 50 percent ranging from 630 to 740 in reading, 660 to 770 in math and 640 to 740 in writ- ing. The schools admission rate is 21 percent and 11 percent of its students come from Maryland. The University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) ranks 55th among national universities, and with more than 37,500 graduate and undergraduate students, is the states largest ed- ucational institution. Among public national universities, it ranks 17th. UMCP admits about 44 percent of applicants, roughly two-thirds of whom are Maryland residents. COURTESY OF STEVENSON UNIVERSITY FOR STUDENTS UNABLE TO OR UNINTERESTED IN ATTENDING THE MOST HIGHLY SELECTIVE schools in the state, there are dozens of other options. Theres real diversity when it comes to the missions of both public and private colleges in Maryland, says Jenifer Blair, director of col- lege counseling at The Boys Latin School of Maryland who previously worked in college admissions. She points to St. Johns College in Annapolis where students immerse them- selves in the works of historys greatest thinkers. These books span some 2,000 years of intellectual history. Students are en- couraged to reach their own conclusions through deep think- ing, critical analysis and intense discussion. Among institutions with unique missions are our histori- cally black institutions, says Blanshan. There are four in the state, each distinct from the other. One, for example, empha- sizes STEM science, technology, engineering and math while another focuses on teacher prep. The four to which Blanshan refers are Coppin State University and Morgan State University in Baltimore, University of Maryland East- ern Shore and Bowie State University. While the student body at Bowie State University in Bowie has diversified somewhat since the school was founded in Fans cheer at a football game at Stevenson University, which, with about 3,500 undergrads and 350 graduate students, has campuses in Owings Mills and the town of Stevenson. The schools focus is on career preparation. Popu- lar majors include health professions, business and marketing and visual and performing arts. 1865, it remains predominantly African-American. Mary- lands oldest historically black institution, the school has nearly 5,600 students. Bowie States roots are in teacher education and many of the states teachers, counselors and principalsinclud- ing several teachers of the year in Prince Georges County list a Bowie State degree on their resume, according to Cassandra Robinson, the schools director of university relations and marketing. Weve greatly expanded from our origins to offer a greater array of academic disciplines. Were particularly strong in sci- ence and technology, Robinson says. In June, the school was designated as a National Center for See BIG SCHOOLS, page 4 How Maryland Colleges Stack Up This sampling of how the states schools are ranked against other colleges and universities nationwide was produced by Karen Finucan Clarkson. Bowie State University #1 Parents and Colleges Top 10 Best Value Public Col- leges and Universities, 2010 #28 U.S. News Best Historically Black Colleges and Univer- sities, 2012 #42 Diverse Issues in Higher Education Master s Degrees Awarded to African Americans (2008-2009), 2011 Frostburg State University #46 U.S. News Top Public Schools, Regional Universities (North), 2012 #136 U.S. News Best Regional Universities (North), 2012 COURTESY OF GOUCHER COLLEGE A student studies anatomy at Goucher College in Baltimore, which has about 1,500 undergraduates and 820 graduate students. Goucher College #121 U.S. News Best National Liberal Arts Colleges, 2012 Hood College #5 U.S. News Best Value Schools, Regional Universities (North), 2012 #26 U.S. News Best Regional Universities (North), 2012 #67 Kiplingers Best Values in Private Universities, 2011 Johns Hopkins University #3 U.S. News Best Medical Schools, Research, 2012 #13 U.S. News Best National Universities, 2012 #16 Kiplingers Best Values in Private Colleges, 2011 #16 U.S. News Best Medical Schools, Primary Care, 2012 #18 U.S. News Best Graduate Education Programs, 2012 #26 U.S. News Best Graduate Engineering Programs, 2012 #32 U.S. News Best Value Schools, National Universities, 2012 #32 U.S. News Best Graduate Public Affairs Programs, 2008 Loyola University Morgan State University #3 U.S. News Best Regional Universities (North), 2012 #71 Kiplingers Best Values in Private Universities, 2011 #18 U.S. News Best Historically Black Colleges and Univer- sities, 2012 #28 Diverse Issues in Higher Education Baccalaureate Degrees Awarded to African Americans (2008- 2009), 2011 #84 Diverse Issues in Higher Education Master s Degrees Awarded to African Americans (2008-2009), 2011 Maryland Institute College of Art #4 U.S. News Best Graduate Fine Arts Programs, 2008 McDaniel College #139 U.S. News Best National Liberal Arts Colleges, 2012 Montgomery College #23 Community College Week Top 100 Associate Degree Producers, African Ameri- cans (2009-2010), 2011 #29 Diverse Issues in Higher Education Associate De- grees Awarded to All Mi- norities (2008-2009), 2011 #45 Community College Week Top 100 Associate Degree Producers (2009-2010), 2011 Mount St. Marys University #10 First Things Most-Catholic Catholic Schools, 2010 #21 U.S. News Best Regional Universities (North), 2012 One of 21 Recommended by Cardinal Newman Societys Guide to Choosing a Catholic College as Most Faithful and Affordable, 2009 See RANKINGS, page 3
NEXT WEEK: PAYING FOR COLLEGE A S P E C I A L S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E G A Z E T T E Wednesday & Thursday, October 19 & 20, 2011 Small State. Big Schools. Diverse Options Color Marylands College Landscape B Y K AREN F INUCAN C LARKSON W hats distinctive about Maryland is that its a small stat
H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N : A S P E C I A L S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E G A Z E T T E Page 2 Wednesday & Thursday, October 19 & 20, 2011 2+2 Path Gains Popularity Why Marylands Community Colleges are Increasingly Attractive B Y K AREN F INUCAN C LARKSON M aryland students looking to earn a b
H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N : A S P E C I A L S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E G A Z E T T E Wednesday & Thursday, October 19 & 20, 2011 Maryland Home to Nationally Ranked Institutions Page 3 RANKINGS, from 1 Notre Dame of Maryland University United States Naval Academy #32 U.S. News Best Regional
Page 4 H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N : A S P E C I A L S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E G A Z E T T E Wednesday & Thursday, October 19 & 20, 2011 The Terrapins marching band kicks it up at a University of Maryland football game. About 10,700 undergraduates attend the College Park location, which retain
Wednesday & Thursday, October 19 & 20, 2011 H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N : A S P E C I A L S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E G A Z E T T E Page 5 About Maryland Colleges & Universities Compiled by Karen Finucan Clarkson Allegany College of Maryland Public, 2-year institution 12401 Willowbrook Rd., S.E.
H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N : A S P E C I A L S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E G A Z E T T E Page 6 www.morgan.edu In-state Tuition/Fees: $6,896 Out-of-state Tuition/Fees: $16,134 Degree Seeking Undergrads: 6,551 Graduate Enrollment: 1,183 SAT Reading: 410-490 SAT Math: 410-490 SAT Writing: NR Popula
