Open-admission policies at Maryland colleges leave students smiling.
Attending a highly selective college isn't for everyone. Students who struggle academically in high school might assume that working toward a four-year degree simply isn't a possibility. However, many schools, including several in Maryland, feature less stringent admissions requirements. Some Maryland schools offer open admission to high school graduates, while others welcome students who meet basic academic qualifications.
University of Maryland University College
Located in Adelphi, the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) has minimum admissions requirements. Students do not have to submit official high school transcripts at the time of admissions, but they do have to submit documentation that proves that they have earned a high school diploma or GED. If students took college courses at another school, they need to have a GPA of at least 2.0 in order to transfer to UMUC. Undergraduates can study fields such as history, finance and investigative forensics, while graduate students can earn both master's and doctoral degrees.
Allegany College of Maryland
Allegany College of Maryland in Cumberland prides itself in an uncomplicated admissions process for interested students. Students enrolling in a degree-seeking program submit their high school transcripts (and college transcripts, if applicable). Instead of taking a general standardized test, they take a placement test for their program. At Allegany College, students can earn certificates and associate degrees in a range of fields including hospitality, culinary arts and leisure studies, social sciences and advanced technologies.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
A high school diploma or its equivalent is the only admission requirement at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne. Applicants need to have completed basic high school courses, including four years of English, three years of social studies and two years of laboratory science, math and foreign language. Undergraduate students can earn bachelor's degrees in fields such as exercise science, English and special education. Master's degrees are available in applied computer science and counselor education, as well as doctoral degrees in toxicology and organizational leadership.
Sojourner-Douglass College
Sojourner-Douglass College, located in Baltimore, has two sets of admission standards. Traditional students, or those entering college out of high school, simply need to show proof of their high school diploma or its equivalent. Nontraditional students, those students who started their careers and are restarting their education, are considered for admissions with or without a high school diploma depending on their ability to benefit their academic program. The school offers bachelor's degrees in fields such as accounting, health care administration and social work as well as graduate degrees.
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