“A personalized liberal arts education that unlocks every student's unique potential through the McDaniel Plan.”
McDaniel College is a private liberal arts institution founded in 1867 as one of the first independent, coeducational colleges in the United States. Located on a scenic 160-acre hilltop campus in Westminster, Maryland — 35 miles northwest of Baltimore — McDaniel has developed a distinctive academic identity built around the McDaniel Plan, a personalized, interdisciplinary curriculum that emphasizes experiential learning, student-faculty collaboration, and meaningful community engagement. With over 40 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in biology, business, computer science, data analytics, education, health sciences, and psychology, the college prepares students for careers and advanced study across a wide range of professional fields. McDaniel is acclaimed for its deep commitment to student success. The college employs dedicated Student Success Coaches and academic advisors who provide individualized guidance throughout each student's academic journey. Faculty members know students by name and actively involve them in collaborative research, community-based projects, and creative endeavors. The Center for Experience and Opportunity connects students to internships, service learning, and career pathways in the nearby Baltimore-Washington metropolitan corridor. McDaniel's Budapest campus — a full-semester study abroad program in Hungary — stands as a distinctive global learning option available to all students. The college's no-fee application and test-optional admissions reflect its commitment to access and opportunity. Campus life at McDaniel is warm and community-oriented, with over 80% of students living on campus. The Green Terror compete in 25 NCAA Division III sports, and students engage with over 90 clubs, organizations, a student newspaper, radio station, and cable TV channel. Beloved traditions bind the community together: the Winter Lights ceremony with personalized senior luminaries, faculty-served Late-Night Breakfast during Finals Week, and the annual Crab Feast during Senior Week. Westminster's charming small-city setting puts students within an hour of Baltimore's world-class museums, Inner Harbor, and professional markets.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Regional Universities North
US News 2026
Best Value Schools – Regional Universities North
US News 2026
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Decision
Binding; students admitted ED are expected to enroll
Early Action I
Non-binding; higher admission rate than Regular Decision
Early Action II
Non-binding
Regular Decision
International students must begin in fall semester only; spring start not available
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$53,150
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Undergraduate and MBA programs focused on practical management, marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship with strong regional employer connections
One of McDaniel's largest departments; rigorous preparation for graduate school in clinical, counseling, and research psychology with strong fieldwork component
Research-oriented biology program with active faculty labs, undergraduate research opportunities, and a graduate M.S. pathway; strong pre-med preparation
Comprehensive teacher preparation with strong Maryland state certification outcomes and graduate M.S.Ed. options across multiple specializations
Undergraduate CS and a STEM-designated M.S. in Data Analytics with Day-1 CPT eligibility; online and low-residency formats available for international students
1 years
STEM-designated graduate program eligible for Day-1 CPT and up to 36 months of OPT. Offered fully online and in a low-residency hybrid format with four entry points per year. Particularly popular with international students seeking immediate work authorization.
4 years
Comprehensive business program with concentrations in management, marketing, and finance. Graduates benefit from McDaniel's career services network in the Baltimore-Washington metro area and strong alumni connections.
4 years
McDaniel's most popular major, offering rigorous research methodology, fieldwork placements, and strong outcomes for graduate school admission in clinical, counseling, and experimental psychology.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $52,081
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
