Differential Tuition FAQs

Differential tuition is an additional charge that enhances the educational experience of certain high-demand programs. The funds aim to add more course sections, expand specialized career services, enhance the value of degrees, attract more top in-state students and strengthen the national standing of the State’s flagship university.

*Helpful Hint: Even with differential tuition, the cost of a degree at UMD is much below the average of other public research institutions.

Undergraduate students with majors in the Robert H. Smith School of Business and the A. James Clark School of Engineering or the UMD Department of Computer Science who have 60+ credits will have additional differential tuition.

The 60+ credits include any college credit earned before enrolling at UMD, including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Advanced International Certificate of Education, dual enrollment and credits earned at other colleges.

Graduate students will not be charged the differential tuition. For current costs, visit the Student Financial Services and Cashiering website.

To make sure we can welcome students from all backgrounds we use differential tuition to provide financial aid to the students who need it most. The University of Maryland takes great pride in the quality and accessibility of our first-rate education; these funds are also used to maintain our world-class facilities. The university will make sure all funds will stay within our programs.

For the 2023-24 academic year, the charge will be $1,515 per semester in addition to tuition for full time students registered for 12 or more credits. For part time students, the charge will be $124.50 per credit. Students from Maryland and students coming from other states are charged the same.

Regular, full-time students will be charged for no more than four semesters of undergraduate differential tuition.

The University  of Maryland will offer the following students our differential tuition Grant:

  • Students attending UMD who have a $0 - $8,000 Student Aid Index (SAI)
  • Students attending UMD on full and partial scholarships through Banneker/Key
  • Students who are Frederick Douglass Scholarship recipients
  • Newly admitted freshmen who transferred in 60+ Advanced Placement (AP) courses will be offered the differential tuition Grant during their first year only to offset Different Tuition charges

Differential tuition will not be charged for the winter and summer terms.

No, students with a double-major will pay only one differential tuition fee.

Students who decide to change their major during the schedule adjustment period to a major outside of the Robert H. Smith School of Business, the A. James Clark School of Engineering and the Department of Computer Science, will receive a 100% refund of the differential tuition charge on their account. Differential tuition charges will not be refunded after the schedule adjustment period.