What's the size of the undergraduate population at University of Maryland?

For me, the size of the student body really matters. I'm curious about how large the undergraduate population is at the University of Maryland. Do you feel like it's a big university, and how does that affect student life there?

The University of Maryland, College Park has an undergraduate student body of approximately 30,700 students. This is indeed considered quite large, especially compared to smaller liberal arts colleges or smaller state schools.

With a larger student population comes a diversity of experiences and opportunities. There are surely more courses and majors to choose from, and the amount of student organizations, clubs, and activities is substantial. This allows every student to find their niche and actively participate in something they're passionate about.

However, this size also means you may find yourself in some large lecture-style classes, especially for lower-level general education requirements. But once you get to higher-level, specialized courses, class sizes tend to get smaller favoring a more intimate learning environment.

In terms of student life, larger schools like UMD typically have lots of school spirit, especially around athletics. The social scene is diverse with a wide array of events, parties, and gatherings, given the large, diverse student population.

One possible downside is that it can be easy to feel lost in the crowd at a larger university, but many students find that getting involved in clubs and activities, forming study groups, and reaching out to professors and teaching assistants can help make the campus feel smaller and more personal.

Keep in mind everyone's experience varies, and it largely depends on what you're looking for in college. For some, a bustling, high-energy campus is exactly what they want, while others might prefer a more close-knit community.