Undergraduate Admissions at McDaniel

Considering applying to McDaniel College? Prospective students can expect a personalized undergraduate admissions process that takes into account the individual strengths of each applicant. The college seeks to accept approximately 500 first-year students per year, and also welcomes applications from those wishing to transfer from community colleges or other four-year institutions. All applicants are encouraged to approach the process with an eagerness to benefit from a liberal arts education through active learning partnerships.

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Meet Your Admissions Counselor Cost & Financial Aid

Supporting You Through the Admissions Process

If you're looking to take the next step in your academic journey, McDaniel makes the application process easy. Our admissions counselors are here for you from start to finish — from visiting our campus and using our admissions resources to submitting an application or Common Application. Start applying now and be part of the McDaniel community!

First-Year Student Application Admitted Student Information Check Your Application Status Visit Incentive Grant Gap Year Information

First-Year Students: If you have not earned your high school diploma (even if you are currently enrolled in college courses through a dual enrollment program) or have graduated from high school but have fewer than 12 transferable college credits, you will apply as a First-Year applicant.
Transfer Students: If you have earned your high school diploma and have more than 12 transferable college credits, you will apply as a Transfer applicant. If you are a dual enrollment student and have not graduated from high school, you will apply as a First-Year student and not as a Transfer applicant.
Nursing (B.S.N.) Admissions: Admission consideration for the bachelor of science in nursing is a multi-step process. In all cases, applicants will first be reviewed for admission to McDaniel College. Only those who are admitted to McDaniel will be considered for the nursing program. The strongest applicants will be invited to a mandatory interview as part of the nursing admissions process.
2nd Bachelor's Degree Students: If you have already earned a Bachelor's Degree and wish to earn another at McDaniel, you'll need to complete the Application for Second Bachelor's Degree and submit an official copy of your undergraduate transcript with degree and date of graduation.
Applying for Re-Admission: If you attended McDaniel in the past, and wish to return to complete your degree, you'll need to submit the McDaniel Application for Re-Admission along with an official transcript for any college you have attended since leaving McDaniel.
International Students: If you are a non-U.S. citizen living outside of the United States or have a current Visa and living in the United States, you would apply as either a First-Year or Transfer student and will have additional application requirements. You are considered a domestic applicant if you are a dual U.S. citizen, a U.S. Permanent Resident, or have either U.S. Refugee/Asylum, DACA, or undocumented status. You should apply as a First-Year or Transfer student.

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Admitted Students How to Deposit & Next Steps

Congratulations on your acceptance to McDaniel! We hope you've taken the time to celebrate this impressive accomplishment. It's just the first step in what we know will be a successful future. Join us to celebrate your acceptance by scheduling your admitted student visit and earn your $1,000 per year Admitted Student Visit Grant. Then, when you're ready, commit to McDaniel by submitting your $500 enrollment deposit.

Admitted Students: Next Steps Ready to Deposit? Schedule your Admitted Student Visit

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Become a Lumen Scholar The McDaniel Honors Program

Admission to the Lumen Scholars program is highly selective and designed to identify students whose applications demonstrate intellectual curiosity, an intrinsic motivation to learn, and potential as leaders in the McDaniel community. First-year students who would like to be considered for the Lumen Scholars Program should submit and complete their application for admission to McDaniel by the Dec. 15 Early Action II deadline.

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Veteran Students Credit for Training & Experience

The College encourages applications from veterans and their family members. McDaniel College provides a Veterans Affairs Coordinator to assist families utilizing veterans’ benefits and services. Veteran students who are members or former members of the Armed Forces of the United States are also granted priority registration for enrollment.

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Early Decision at McDaniel Apply by Nov. 1

If you have decided that McDaniel College is your first choice, we invite you to consider our Early Decision plan. Early Decision plans are binding — a student who is accepted as an ED applicant must attend McDaniel. There are numerous benefits to applying Early Decision, including learning early if you have been admitted to McDaniel — which means that you can relax and enjoy the rest of your senior year with your admissions process behind you.

Important Dates and Deadlines

We understand that the application process can be stressful at times, and we work hard to ensure that we are flexible throughout the process to help minimize the anxiety our applicants experience. However, there are some important dates and deadlines to keep in mind throughout the application cycle. The dates and deadlines listed below are the most important to ensuring a successful transition to McDaniel.

Staying on Track

Throughout the entire application and enrollment process, your admissions counselor will work closely with you to ensure you meet important deadlines. We will communicate directly with you (the applicant!) in a variety of ways, including text, email and phone. If you aren't sure what to do next, don't worry! We're here to guide you.

November 1
- Early Decision Application Deadline for fall semester
November 15
- Early Action I Application Deadline for fall semester
December 1
- Application Deadline for spring semester
December 15
- Final application deadline if you wish to be considered for the Honors Program or a Presidential Scholarship award
- Early Action II Application Deadline for fall semester
January 15
- Deposit Deadline for spring semester
February 1
- Regular Decision Deadline for fall semester (Applications will still be considered on a space-available basis through the July 15th final deadline.)
- Final Application Deadline for fall semester for international students living outside of the United States.
March 1
- Preferred FAFSA Submission Deadline (yes, you can still submit your FAFSA and receive financial aid after this deadline, however submitting your FAFSA by March 1 ensures you will be eligible for the maximum amount of financial aid!)
- Priority Decision Transfer Application Deadline for fall semester
May 1
- National Reply and Deposit Deadline for Fall semester
July 15
- Payment Deadline for fall semester
- Regular Decision Final Deadline for fall semester

Learn More About McDaniel Scholarships Up to $132,000 to pay for college

McDaniel offers a variety of scholarships that recognize academic achievement and service to our communities. The Legacy Scholarship Program provides significant annual awards for eligible first-year and transfer students with family connections to educators, military members, first responders, health professionals, and public servants. Students are also considered for additional merit-based scholarships through the admission process.

Explore Scholarship Opportunities

Connect With Us

Office of Admissions Email us

Phone: 410-857-2230

Office: Carroll Hall