In 1925, a group of civic leaders in Baltimore who believed there was a need for higher education geared toward adults opened what is now know as the University of Baltimore. Initially, the school opened in a four-story townhouse on St. Paul Street, providing evening and weekend courses for working people. Day programs were added and a full-scale junior college created in 1937.
The college moved to its present campus at the corner of Mount Royal Avenue and North Charles Street in the Mt. Vernon cultural district of Baltimore. The school was housed in buildings constructed in the early 1900s, the Loyola Savings and Loan Building and what was known as "The Old Garage."
In 1973, the school merged with the Baltimore College of Commerce and became a public institution in 1975. In 1982, the school received three financial gifts from the Merrick Foundation and the school was named for Robert G. Merrick, Sr. In 2006, the school established the first and only undergraduate business program in Maryland that focuses on real estate and economic development.
Today, more than one-third of state court judges in Maryland are University of Baltimore alumni. U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University of Baltimore's Merrick School of Business and the MBA programs as some of the best in the country. TaxTalent.com has named the Master of Science in Taxation in the top 30 percent of all programs in the country.
University of Baltimore Accreditation Details
The University of Baltimore is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Accreditation means that the university meets or exceeds the rigorous standards set forth by the Commission that indicate institutional effectiveness and academic performance. In addition to regional accreditation, programs throughout the agency are accredited by industry specific agencies and organizations.
University of Baltimore Application Requirements
Students who have not earned college credit after high school graduation are admitted to the University of Baltimore as freshmen. Students must complete an application for admission and pay the applicable fee. Students must provide an essay or personal statement along with official high school transcripts and SAT or ACT scores. Students may also submit a resume, list of extracurricular activities and letters of recommendation although they are optional.
Students who have earned college credit after high school may apply as transfer students. Students must complete the application and pay the applicable fee. Students must provide an official college transcript from all colleges and universities attended. Applicants who have earned more than 24 college credits after high school may apply with coursework in progress rather than wait until the semester ends. However, a final transcript reflecting grades assigned at the end of the semester must be provided to complete the admission process. Some programs may have additional admission requirements so students are encouraged to speak to an admissions counselor before applying.
Graduate applicants must complete an application for admittance which includes a personal statement. There is a non-refundable application fee as well. Students must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended with one displaying the conferring of a bachelor's degree or higher. Individual graduate programs may have additional admission requirements so students are encouraged to speak to an admissions counselor before applying.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The University of Baltimore offers in-state and out-of-state tuition rates. Students who live in the following areas are eligible for in-state tuition:
- Alexandria, Virginia
- Arlington County, Virginia
- Fairfax County, Virginia
- Fairfax, Virginia
- Falls Church, Virginia
- Kent County, Delaware
- Loudon County, Virginia
- Manassas, Virginia
- Manassas Park, Virginia
- New Castle County, Delaware
- Prince William County, Virginia
- Sussex County, Delaware
- Washington, DC
Students enrolled in the Master of Business Administration, Master of Public Administration or Master of Science in Interaction Design and Information Architecture online programs are also eligible for in-state tuition.
In-state undergraduate tuition is $308 per credit hour for on-campus courses and $349 for online courses. Out-of-state tuition is $973 per credit hour for on-campus courses and $1,037 for online courses. Graduate tuition per credit hour is as follows:
- Arts and Sciences – $730 in-state/$1,091 out-of-state for Master's; $932 in-state/$1,582 out-of-state for Doctoral
- Business – $785 in-state/$1,084 out-of-state
- Juris Doctorate Law – $1,200 in-state/$1,690 out-of-state
- Master of Business Administration – $824 in-state/$1,149 out-of-state
- Master of Laws (LLM) in Law of the United States – $673 in-state and out-of-state
- Public Affairs – $752 in-state/$1,091 out-of-state for Master's; $960 in-state/$1,582 out-of-state for Doctoral
Financial aid is available and 80 percent of University of Baltimore students receive some type of financial assistance. Aid is available in the form of grants, loans, work-study and scholarships. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to qualify for assistance.
Online Degrees Available
Master of Science in Business Administration
The Master of Science in Business Administration is offered in a completely online format. Students who enroll in the online program are eligible for in-state tuition regardless of where they live. The program is inspired by real-world business challenges. It was built using expertise provided by the Baltimore business community as well as alumni and students. The program is built around six principal themes which include:
- Interfacing with external stakeholders
- Leading and managing people
- Leveraging technology and business intelligence
- Managing innovation and strategy
- Managing performance and risk
- Managing the value chain
The online program offers the same rigorous course of study that the on-campus program requires.
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration online program is NASPAA accredited, one of only 23 in the country. The same courses required of on-campus students is required of online students. Students must be computer and information literate. Courses required for the program include:
- Analytical Techniques in Public Administration
- Bureaucracy and the Political Process
- Information Resource Management
- Legal and Ethical Environment of Public Administration
- Public Budgeting and Fiscal Administration
- Public Management
- Public Personnel and Human Resource Management
- Public Program Evaluation
- Public Policy
- Statistical Applications in Public Administration
Students may also concentrate their studies through the choice of electives as part of the online program. Specializations include:
- Budgeting and Fiscal Administration
- Global Affairs & Human Security
- Healthcare Policy & Administration
- Negotiations & Conflict Management
- Public & Non-Profit Management
- Public Policy & Administration
Students must also complete an internship which can be arranged in their local area.
The University of Baltimore has provided opportunities for working adults to achieve their higher education goals since it was founded in 1925. Today, the University of Baltimore continues that tradition with online programs that allow individuals with work, family or social obligations that prevent them from attending traditional classes to move into a new career or advance in a current career.