University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Background

A historically black, public research institution, University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) was founded in 1886 with a mission to promote diversity, equality, and intellectual development. According to “US News and World Report”, University of Maryland Eastern Shore is ranked as the 17th Best Historically Black College and/or University (HBCU) in the United States. Today, UMES continues to advance its founding mission by welcoming students from all nationalities, races, and ethnicities. Upon graduation, students possess the skills to necessary to succeed in their chosen fields.

Exceptional and Diverse Faculty Members

Like UMES students, the faculty members at University of Maryland Eastern Shore come from a wide range of educational and personal backgrounds. UMES professors are particularly successful in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, and have published groundbreaking reports and articles in these fields. UMES professors have been recognized on a state-level for their success as mentors, scholars, public servants, and innovative researchers.

With a low student-faculty ratio (13:1), undergraduate and graduate students can engage directly with their professors as mentors in order to excel in their areas of interest. Faculty members are committed to student success and achievement, and they work hard to foster positive relationships throughout students’ careers, particularly during their thesis and dissertation writing periods.

A Wide Variety of Opportunities for Student Involvement in Both Research and Campus Life

UMES has undergraduate degree programs in 38 disciplinary areas, and 16 graduate programs. Notable programs include Criminal Justice, Biology, Kinesiology, Aviation, and Human Ecology, among others. In these and other areas, students have numerous opportunities to become involved in research. For example, due to its unique location between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, UMES is able to offer a variety of research opportunities related to sea life, coastal ecology, off-shore fisheries, and coastal marine sciences. All programs are designed with student research in mind, and they promote the development of hands-on skills that can be transferred to the job market and applied in future research degrees.

Across campus, there is also vibrant student life in the form of clubs, organizations, sports, and fraternities. In addition to typical student life organizations, UMES also has historic programs that specifically promote the success of people of color. For instance, students can become involved in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), among others.

Beautiful Campus Location and Easy Access to Surrounding Areas

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore campus is situated in the historic town of Princess Anne. The entire area on campus known as the Academic Oval is on Maryland’s Registry of Historic Places. As such, students can engage directly with American history while completing their assignments and sipping a coffee in a local cafe or working by the famous Boxwood Gardens. UMES also encourages engagement with the wider community and surrounding areas through its numerous Arts & Entertainment programs as well as service learning opportunities.

The town and UMES campus both provide a quiet and quaint learning environment for students to succeed. However, students also have easy access to larger cities including Baltimore, Washington, Philadelphia, and New York City. All of these cities can be easily reached in under three hours. For students who wish to explore the surrounding area, public transportation is widely available free with your Hawk Card.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Opportunities

UMES recognizes that college is inaccessible for many young adults, and makes every effort to reduce the barriers that prevent students from achieving their educational dreams and goals. It has set up a number of financial aid, grant, loan, and scholarship opportunities to promote the education of students from marginalized backgrounds. A special financial aid office within UMES provides tailored financial aid guidance to students. Undergraduates can also apply for work-study jobs that will help fund them through their degrees.

In the case of graduate students, UMES offers not only financial aid, but also Graduate Assistantships (GAs) in teaching, research, and administrative areas. Graduate Assistantships give students the chance to earn extra funding for their degrees and personal lives as they progress through their advanced programs. Graduate students often find teaching to be both a valuable skill and a rewarding chance to engage with younger students who are just beginning their educational journeys.