OVERVIEW

Towson University is a public university in the state of Maryland, US. As part of the University System of Maryland, it has an enrollment of more than 20,000 students. Serving as one of the largest public universities in the state of Maryland, it produces the most teachers as a higher education institution in Maryland.

The university was established in 1866 as the first teacher training school in Maryland, which was called Maryland State Normal School, and was moved to its present location in Towson in the county of Baltimore, Maryland in 1915. The campus is the first in Maryland to enact a smoke-free policy ever since 2010.

The university offers degrees in bachelor’s, post-bachelor’s certificate, master’s, post-master’s certificate, and doctorate programs. In all, 64 undergraduate majors, 37 master’s degree programs and 4 doctoral programs are offered at Towson.

The mission of Towson University is:

Towson University, as the state’s comprehensive Metropolitan University, offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts, sciences, arts and applied professional fields that are nationally recognized for quality and value. Towson emphasizes excellence in teaching, scholarship, research and community engagement responsive to the needs of the region and the state. In addition to educating students in the specialized knowledge of defined fields, Towson’s academic programs develop students’ capacities for effective communication, critical analysis, and flexible thought, and they cultivate an awareness of both difference and commonality necessary for multifaceted work environments and for local and global citizenship and leadership. Towson’s core values reflect high standards of integrity, collaboration, and service, contributing to the sustainability and enrichment of the culture, society, economy, and environment of the State of Maryland and beyond.

ACCREDITATION

Towson University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Maryland State Department of Education. Meanwhile, a number of the programs offered at Towson are accredited by other organizations.

ACADEMICS

The university is composed of 8 colleges:

1. College of Business and Economics
2. College of Education
3. College of Fine Arts and Communication
4. College of Health Professions
5. College of Liberal Arts
6. Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics
7. Honors College
8. College of Graduate Studies and Research

The most popular majors and course of study for students are as follows:

1. Business, management, marketing, and related support services
2. Education
3. Social sciences
4. Communication, journalism, and related programs
5. Health professions and related programs

The university was ranked No. 49 by the N.S. News & World Report among all the regional universities in the North part of the States, and was listed by Forbes in its 2009 list of the top colleges and universities in the country.

Towson University offers a gerontology program, which is currently offered in only 100 universities or colleges in the United States, and it is also the only public university which offers an e-Business undergraduate program.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The admission rate is about 57 percent at Towson. For the applicants, factors including academic GPA, standardized test scores, rigor of secondary school record, application essay, class rank, recommendation, etc. are viewed quite important during the admission.

COSTS AND FINANCIAL AID

The tuition and fees is USD 5,180 for in-state students, and USD 15,994 for out-of-state students every academic year. The room and board may cost USD 8,670 on average, and there are some other required fees, which amount to about USD 2,238.

Financial aids including scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs are offered at Towson, which are funded by the US Department of Education, the state of Maryland, and the university. About 48.2 percent full time students receive certain type of financial assistance, and the average grant award or scholarship is USD 7,601.