McDaniel College is a four-year, independent college of the liberal arts and sciences. Founded in 1867 as one of the first coeducational colleges in the nation and the first south of the Mason-Dixon Line, McDaniel is a diverse, student-centered community of 1,600 undergraduates and 1,400 graduate students. As one of 40 "Colleges That Change Lives," McDaniel is committed to access and affordability. More than 90 percent of students receive some type of financial assistance and McDaniel invests over $40 million annually in grants and scholarships. Students can choose from more than 70 undergraduate programs of study, including pre-professional specializations and student-designed majors, plus over 20 graduate programs. Academics center on the McDaniel Plan, a customized, interdisciplinary curriculum that emphasizes experiential learning and student-faculty collaboration to develop the unique potential in every student. The McDaniel Commitment guarantees every student two experiential learning opportunities, including service learning, study abroad, student-faculty collaborative research, credit-based internship or independent study. Students also enroll in first-year seminars and senior capstone projects. Special opportunities abound through McDaniel's Center for Experience and Opportunity, The Encompass Distinction program in innovation and entrepreneurship, the Honors Program, and Global Initiatives including the Global Fellows program. Represented by the Green Terror, its 24 athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference. Additionally, students are involved in over 90 student organizations, intramural sports, and fraternities and sororities. McDaniel offers access to both Baltimore and Washington, D.C., plus a European campus in Budapest, Hungary.
About
From the School
Contact & Visit
Campus Visits Contact
Contact
Campus Visit Coordinator
Office of Admissions
Office of Admissions
Address
2 College Hill
Carroll Hall
Westminster, MD 21157
Carroll Hall
Westminster, MD 21157
Phone
800-638-5005
Email
visits@mcdaniel.edu
Experience College Life
Most Popular Places On Campus
The Hoover Library & Caseys' Corner
Merritt Fitness Center
Decker College Center
Gill Stadium
Golf Course
Others: Gazebo and Harvey Stone Park
Merritt Fitness Center
Decker College Center
Gill Stadium
Golf Course
Others: Gazebo and Harvey Stone Park
Most Popular Places Off Campus
Baltimore Inner Harbor
Gettysburg Battlefields
National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Carroll County Arts Center
Cafes and Eateries on Main Street in Westminster
The college is located an hour or less from Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and the Chesapeake Bay, and has convenient access to many outdoor and recreational activities from sailing to skiing.
Gettysburg Battlefields
National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Carroll County Arts Center
Cafes and Eateries on Main Street in Westminster
The college is located an hour or less from Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and the Chesapeake Bay, and has convenient access to many outdoor and recreational activities from sailing to skiing.
Campus Tours
Campus Visiting Center
Monday-Friday; Saturday
8:30am-4:30pm; appointment only (11-1)
800-638-5005
8:30am-4:30pm; appointment only (11-1)
800-638-5005
Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: Summer-MWF 10a & 2p, Academic-Mon-Fri 10a & 2p, select Sat
Average Length: 1 hour
Dates: Year-round
Times: Summer-MWF 10a & 2p, Academic-Mon-Fri 10a & 2p, select Sat
Average Length: 1 hour
On Campus Interview
Campus Interviews
Yes
Information Sessions
Available
Times
M-F & Saturdays
Faculty and Coach Visits
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Advance Notice
2 weeks
Contact Email Address for Visit
visits@mcdaniel.edu
Class Visits
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Overnight Dorm Stays
Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available
Limitations
N/A
Transportation
Types of Transportation Available to Campus
BWI airport is 45 minutes from campus
A free college shuttle is available on major college breaks to the airport and train station.
24-hour Carroll County Taxi
Driving Instructions to Campus
From I-95, exit to I-695 W. (Baltimore Beltway). From I-695, take Exit 19 to I-795 (the Northwest Expy.). Follow I-795 to its end, then follow signs to Westminster via Rte. 140 W. Proceed around Westminster and turn left onto Rte. 31. Continue for half a mile (with the McDaniel College golf course on the left); at the first traffic light, turn left onto Main Street. Proceed for a third of a mile and turn right into the college parking lot.
From I-495 (Washington Beltway), exit onto I-270 toward Frederick, then onto Rte 27N/Damascus. At the intersection of Rtes. 27 and 32(Main Street), turn left and drive half a mile. Bear right at the fork; then make the first left into the college parking lot.
Local Accommodations
Hyatt Place (4730 Painters Mill Road, Owings Mills, MD; 410-998-3630), 20 miles from campus.
Hilton Garden Inn (Owings Mills Blvd.; 410-654-0300). Located next to I-795 and adjacent to Owings Mills Mall.
A Best Western (451 WMC Dr.; 410-876-0010) is across the street. Ask for the college visitor rate and you get tennis, golf, and health club privileges through the college.
A Days Inn (Cranberry Rd.; 410-857-0500), 2 miles from campus.
Save SchoolAdmissions
Admissions
Overall
From The School
First time college students have the option to apply using The McDaniel Application for First Year Students or the Common Application and can choose any deadline. In addition to the completed application, first year students are required to submit a personal essay and an official high school transcript. One letter of recommendation and SAT or ACT scores are optional. There is no fee to apply. Because merit scholarship decisions are made along with admission decisions, students should include all honors and activities with the application or attach a resume. Students who file the FAFSA when they submit their application will also receive their need-based financial aid award shortly after they receive their admission and scholarship decisions.
Overview
Applicants: 3,682
Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average HS GPA: 3.56
SAT & ACT Test Scores
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
530 - 620
SAT Math
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
520 - 610
ACT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
21 - 27
Testing Policies
Yes
Yes
Standardized testing policy for use in admission
Test Optional
Deadlines
Early Decision — November 1
Early Decision II — January 15
Early Action — December 15
Other Admission Factors
Academic
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Academic GPA
Selectivity Rating
Get a personalized plan for a competitive application from an admissions expert.
Learn MoreAcademics
Academics
Overall
From The School
Academic Programs
For the full listing of majors, minors, and specializations, check the college website at www.mcdaniel.edu/undergraduate/the-mcdaniel-plan/programs-of-study.
Majors, Minors, and Specializations include Accounting, Accounting Economics, American Sign Language and Deaf Studies, Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies, Art (Studio Art), Art History, Asian Studies, Athletic Training, Biology, Biochemistry, Business Administration, Chemistry, Cinema, Communication, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Economics, Education (P-12), Elementary Education, English, Environmental Studies, French, History, International Studies, Kinesiology, Marketing, Mathematics, Middle Eastern Studies, Military Science (ROTC), Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Social Work, Sociology, Spanish, Student-Designed Major, Theatre Arts.
Majors and Degrees Offered
More than 70 undergraduate programs of study, including pre-professional specializations and student-designed majors, plus over 20 graduate programs.
Faculty and Class Information
Student/Faculty
11:1
Total Faculty
584
with Terminal Degree
257
354
Women
230
Men
71
Minority
Most frequent class size
10 - 19
Most frequent lab / sub section size
10 - 19
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
62%
Graduate in 5 years
67%
Graduate in 6 years
68%
Majors
-
AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
Asian Studies/Civilization.
Near and Middle Eastern Studies.
-
BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
-
BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES.
Accounting and Related Services, Other.
Business Administration and Management, General.
-
COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
Speech Communication and Rhetoric.
-
COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
-
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
English Language and Literature, General.
-
FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
French Language and Literature.
German Language and Literature.
Spanish Language and Literature.
-
HISTORY.
History, General.
-
MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
Mathematics, General.
-
MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
-
NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION.
Environmental Studies.
-
PARKS, RECREATION, LEISURE, AND FITNESS STUDIES.
Health and Physical Education/Fitness, General.
-
PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Philosophy.
Religion/Religious Studies.
-
PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Chemistry, General.
Physics, General.
-
PSYCHOLOGY.
Psychology, General.
-
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS.
Social Work.
-
SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Economics, General.
Political Science and Government, Other.
Sociology.
-
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Art History, Criticism and Conservation.
Art/Art Studies, General.
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
Film/Cinema/Video Studies.
Music, General.
Students Say
Located about thirty miles outside of Baltimore, McDaniel College (formerly known as Western Maryland College) is a small private school that encourages faculty-student collaboration and the pursuit of an education through the lens of a greater global community. The college has “generous financial aid” and “an extremely affordable and valuable study abroad experience available” to students at its sister campus in Budapest. Regardless of where they study with McDaniel, students cite professors who “create a welcoming learning environment and don’t want people to fall behind.” As one student puts it, “The professors at McDaniel are … incredibly responsive to student needs.” That’s a trait that is only amplified with “having small class sizes, [which gives] the opportunity to know professors on a personal level.” Faculty are “realistic about college life and great resources” for any student requests, and their classes “consist of participation, student-led presentations, and lectures,” and “critical thinking skills are highlighted in each course.” Some students note the out-of-the-box methods that are also often employed, including “having alumni bring their babies into our Developmental Psychology class so we could observe them” or holding “a murder mystery dinner for a Horror Fiction class and connecting it to class concepts.”
Degrees
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Bachelor's certificate
Master's
Post-Bachelor's certificate
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
Yes
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Opportunities at School
Experiential
Internship
Notable Faculty
Prominent Alumni
Michelle Shearer
2011 National Teacher of the Year
Wendy Ruderman
Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and author
Greg Street
Video game designer (World of Warcraft, League of Legends)
Randy Day
Perdue Farms Chief Executive Officer, only the fourth CEO in the company?s 100-year history
Edward Kasemeyer
Politician, long-serving member of the Maryland General Assembly
Ellen Sauerbrey
Two-time Republican nominee for governor of Maryland who has served 16 years in the House of Delegates
Jim Wilberger
Hollywood producer, best known for ?Gettysburg?
Academic Rating
81/99
Careers
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
62%
Graduate in 5 years
67%
Graduate in 6 years
68%
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
Yes
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Opportunities at School
Experiential
Internship
ROI & Outcomes
Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
Tuition: $44,540; Room: $5,408; Board: $6,364
Financial Aid
Over 90 percent of students receive some type of financial assistance (need-based and/or academic scholarships). The College invests over $40 million annually in grants and scholarships to ensure that students from all kinds of financial backgrounds are able to experience a McDaniel education. A large percentage of incoming students earn merit scholarships based on scholastic and personal achievement, ranging from $13,000 to $25,000 per year.
Dates
Application Deadlines
Apr 1
Notification Date
Dec 15
Required Forms
FAFSA
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$34,891
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$37,622
Average Need-Based Loan
$2,991
Undergraduates who have borrowed through any loan program
80%
Average amount of loan debt per graduate
$35,569
Financial aid provided to international students
Yes
Expenses per Academic Year
Tuition
$44,540
Required Fees
Average Cost for Books and Supplies
$1,200
Tuition / Fees Vary by Year of Study
No
Board for Commuters
$3,120
Transportation for Commuters
$1,200
On-Campus Room and Board
$11,772
Comprehensive Fee
Available Aid
Financial Aid Methodology
Federal
Scholarships and Grants
Need-Based
Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
Need-Based Federal Pell
Need-Based Private Scholarships
Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Non-Need-Based
Institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid is available
Federal Direct Student Loan Programs
Direct PLUS Loans
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL)
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes
Direct Lender
No
Financial Aid Rating
88/99
Student Body
Student Body
Overall
From The School
McDaniel's diverse student-centered community of 1,600 undergraduates and 1,400 graduate students come from 37 states and 30 countries. More than 30 percent of the current undergraduate student body are multicultural students and approximately 40 percent are first-generation college students.
Students are involved in more than 90 student organizations and intramural sports, plus fraternities and sororities. More than 20 national and international honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa, recognize leadership, service, and academic achievement.
Student Body Profile
Total Undergraduate Enrollment
1,558
Foreign Countries Represented
34
Demographics
2.40%
Asian
15.58%
Black
6.56%
Hispanic
62.14%
Caucasian
6.69%
Unknown
2.92%
International
51% female
49% male
33% are out of state
98% are full time
2% are part time
Students Say
The school as a whole “is just as diverse as the options McDaniel has for students academically,” with this “eclectic group” coming from all around the world. Students from different departments “have no issue interacting with one another, and if you haven’t met a person, chances are you’ve seen them around anyway.” However, “the community is very sports-oriented, which can be limiting for those who are not involved in sports,” and “it sometimes feels as though the divide is between the athletes and the non-athletes.” Still, everyone here is “generally respectful and well-mannered,” and “genuinely focused on getting an enhanced education.” Everyone at the school “goes above and beyond to make sure … students feel appreciated, valued, and as though they are an active member of the community.”
Campus Life
Campus Life
Overview
From The School
Location
McDaniel's 160-acre suburban campus overlooking downtown Westminster, Md., Carroll County's largest town and county seat, McDaniel offers access to the resources of Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
Special collections in Hoover Library include the Nora Roberts American Romance Collection, the Bothe Poetry Lecture Collection, and the Student Art Collection; video production laboratory; photography studio; human performance laboratory, neuromuscular performance laboratory, and human anatomy and physiology laboratory; graphics laboratory; observatory; student research science labs; 9-hole golf course and 18-hole FootGolf course.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Study abroad for academic credit at McDaniel's European campus in Budapest, Hungary, or in more than 50 countries, including Belgium, Scotland, and Zimbabwe; The Washington Semester Program administered by American University enables students to study public affairs in the nation's capital; The Gallaudet Visiting Student Program gives students the opportunity to study and/or complete the ASL/Deaf Studies minor by immersion in the language and culture of deaf people; engineering specialization partnership with Washington University in St. Louis.
Campus Life
Undergrads living on campus
83%
Help finding off-campus housing
Yes
84/99
First-Year Students living on campus
95%
Campus Environment
Suburban
88/99
Housing Options
Apartment Single
Disabled Student
Disabled Student
Dorms Coed
Frat Sorority
Theme Housing
Frat Sorority
Theme Housing
Students Say
Students generally “spend their days in class, the library, working part-time jobs, and hanging out with friends” on this “beautiful campus.” Since 80 percent of McDaniel students live in residence halls or campus apartments, students “plan to get together Saturday nights.” As for off-campus fun, because “there is not a whole lot to do in the city of Westminster,” where the school is located, students organize their activities, such as “socials outside of campus.” Overall, students come up with a lot to do: one popular activity in the warmer months is for students to “pull out their hammocks and set them up where they can around campus.” And if you don’t have a hammock, the campus has many “comfortable places in which multiple people can spend time with friends, picnic, listen to music, or even play yard games like cornhole or Spikeball.” If more competitive sports are more your style, you’ll feel right at home at McDaniel, as “intramural sports are huge” on campus, and “lots of people come out to games [and] events.” Overall, students enjoy life at McDaniel “because the campus is small [and] there will always be someone or another student to spend time with.”
Special Needs Admissions
Program / Service Name
Student Academic Support Services
Type of Program
For all students with disabilities
Director
Melanie Conley
College Entrance Tests Required
No
Interview Required
No
Special Need Services Offered
Student Activities
Registered Student Organizations
90
Number of Honor Societies
28
Number of Social Sororities
6
Number of Religious Organizations
3
14% join a fraternity
16% join a sorority
Sports
Athletic Division
Division III
Men's Sports (Green Terror)
12 Sports
Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country
Football
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Wrestling
Basketball
Cross Country
Football
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Wrestling
Women's Sports (Green Terror)
12 Sports
Basketball
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Student Services
Health
LGBT Support Groups
Army ROTC Offered on-campus
LGBT Support Groups
Minority Support Groups: The Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs leads the college's efforts on behalf of diversity and multiculturalism. Additionally, McDaniel has various ethnic and cultural student organizations including Africa's Legacy, Asian Community Coalition, Black Student Union, and the Hispano-Latino Alliance.
Army ROTC Offered on-campus
Sustainability
60*
Campus Security Report
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/
Other Information
Campus-wide Internet Network
Yes
% of Classrooms with Wireless Internet
100
Fee for Network Use
No
Partnerships with Technology Companies
No
Personal computer included in tuition for each student
No
Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
Yes
Description
Apple and Dell
