UMD Ranks Among Top 15 Public Universities for Pell Student Graduation Rates

The University of Maryland ranks No. 15 among U.S. four-year public universities for “Colleges With the Best 6-Year Graduation Rates for Pell Students” in the 2024 edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education’s Almanac.

This year’s list analyzes rates from 2022, when the graduation rate for UMD students with Pell Grants was 81.1%. Pell Grants are federal aid awarded to students with significant financial need and do not require repayment. The graduation rate reflects the percentage of fall 2016 first-time, full-time, bachelor’s-degree-seeking students who received a Pell Grant, and who completed bachelor’s or equivalent degrees at the same institution by August 2022.

UMD’s graduation rate for the Fall 2017 cohort of Pell students rose to 82.9%.

UMD has a wide range of programs that support students with financial need starting with the application process through their time at UMD to graduation. The C.D. Mote, Jr. Incentive Awards Program, Maryland Promise Program and Academic Achievement Programs are designed to recruit, support and retain low-income students. UMD also offers resources and programs specifically designed for first-generation Terps.

“Our programs attract and support exceptional students who have not traditionally had access to higher education,” said William A. Cohen, UMD’s associate provost and dean for undergraduate studies. “Investing in people and communities is a core part of our mission, and the wealth of experience and knowledge these students bring to our university helps enrich the entire campus community.”

In addition to programs that support students through their time at UMD, the Terrapin Commitment, the largest single-year investment in need-based scholarships in the university’s history, provides aid to Maryland students with the greatest financial need.

“At the University of Maryland, we are deeply committed to providing access to higher education for all students, regardless of their financial background,” said Dawit S. Lemma, director of UMD’s Office of Student Financial Aid. “By supporting the success and retention of Pell Grant recipients, we are dedicated to ensuring students not only access higher education but also thrive and graduate with the skills and knowledge to lead impactful lives.”