Morgan State University

Public · Moderately Selective · MD

Photo: 1msulax (Public Domain)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationMD · South

SettingUrban

Undergrads9,019

Student:faculty18:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate18.9%

6-yr grad rate40.9%

Drop-out rate26.7%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$8k

Out-of-state tuition$19k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity99.3%

Gender diversity61.4%

International6.3%

IdentityHBCU

Overview

Morgan State is Maryland's largest historically Black university, set on a hilltop campus in northeast Baltimore, and it carries the state's formal designation as its preeminent public urban research university — a title that reflects real, ongoing investment rather than just branding. Its identity blends deep HBCU tradition around community, mentorship, and legacy with a growing research profile that has expanded significantly in recent years. Bears orange and blue, and a strong role in Baltimore's civic and cultural life, mark a school whose history runs back to the 19th century as a training institution for Black educators and ministers.

Academics

Engineering, architecture, and the School of Global Journalism and Communication are well-known strengths, and the university has been expanding its doctoral and research capacity in recent years to match its designated role as an urban research university. Programs tend to emphasize both technical rigor and direct civic engagement with Baltimore, reflecting the university's historic mission of training Black professionals to serve their communities. Morgan State's engineering and architecture programs in particular have real name recognition among HBCUs nationally, drawing students from well beyond Maryland.

Campus & student life

The celebrated Morgan State University Choir, built into a nationally and internationally known ensemble under decades of dedicated direction, is a genuine source of campus pride, having performed at venues including the Kennedy Center and on tours abroad representing the university globally. Campus life reflects strong HBCU traditions around community, mentorship, and legacy, and the Magnificent Marching Machine band brings real energy to Bears football and campus events. Baltimore's proximity provides internship and cultural access well beyond what the hilltop campus alone offers.

Getting in

Admission is holistic, with the university valuing academic preparation alongside genuine fit with its mission and community, consistent with its role as Maryland's flagship HBCU. Competitive programs like engineering and architecture expect strong preparation, but the university's broader admissions approach reflects its historic commitment to opening doors for students, including many first-generation and Baltimore-area applicants.

After graduation

Graduates place strongly in engineering, architecture, and media careers, often within the Baltimore-Washington corridor, and the HBCU alumni network carries particular strength and loyalty on a genuinely national basis, connecting graduates through both Morgan State's own network and the broader web of HBCU alumni relationships across industries.

Worth knowing

The choir's national and international reputation is a genuine point of distinction unmatched by most universities its size. The state designation as preeminent public urban research university reflects real, ongoing investment in Morgan State's research growth, meaning the university's research profile has been actively expanding rather than static.

morgan.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate82.2%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 840–1070 · ACT 16–21

Test policyoptional

Rec letters1

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Applying