Towson University

Public · Moderately Selective · MD

Photo: Katie Simmons-Barth Photography from Baltimore, USA (CC BY 2.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationMD · South

SettingUrban

Undergrads16,136

Student:faculty14:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate47.1%

6-yr grad rate69.5%

Drop-out rate17.2%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$12k

Out-of-state tuition$30k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity62.2%

Gender diversity58.6%

International1%

Identity—

Overview

Towson University sits just north of Baltimore along the I-695 beltway and is the second-largest university in Maryland, with roots going back to a 19th-century teachers' college — a lineage still visible in its long-standing identity as a leader in teacher preparation. It offers a suburban, self-contained campus setting with easy access to Baltimore, serving a large and genuinely diverse student body across a wide range of majors. Tigers athletics and a sizable Greek and club scene give Towson a more traditional college-campus feel than its urban neighbor to the south.

Academics

Teacher preparation is Towson's signature strength and has been for generations, tracing directly back to the university's founding as a normal school, and it remains one of the largest producers of new teachers in Maryland. The university also runs solid programs in health professions — including a well-regarded occupational therapy program — business through its College of Business and Economics, and the arts. The scale of the university supports a wide range of majors without losing a generally accessible, undergraduate-focused feel.

Campus & student life

The suburban campus gives students a defined, self-contained college experience — quads, residence halls, a real campus core — while still being close enough to Baltimore for internships, city outings, and professional sports. A large, diverse student population supports a wide range of student organizations, and Towson has built a genuinely strong esports program alongside more traditional Tigers athletics in the Coastal Athletic Association. The balance of suburban calm and city proximity is a deliberate part of the school's appeal.

Getting in

Admission is holistic but accessible, reflecting Towson's role as one of Maryland's major public universities serving a broad range of students from across the state. Education and health-professions programs, including occupational therapy, may involve additional program-specific requirements or a competitive secondary application once students are enrolled, so students set on those tracks should plan for that extra step.

After graduation

Education graduates place widely in Maryland's school systems, reflecting the program's long track record and deep relationships with districts across the state, and health-professions and business graduates benefit from Baltimore's proximity for internships and early-career opportunities. The occupational therapy program in particular has a strong regional placement record in Maryland's hospitals and clinics.

Worth knowing

The teacher preparation program's long track record makes Towson a natural first choice for students set on a career in education. The suburban-but-close-to-Baltimore location suits students who want real city access — internships, culture, professional sports — without living directly inside a dense urban campus.

towson.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate82%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 950–1235 · ACT 19–27

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Early actionNov 1

Verified from the school’s admissions page ↗

Applying