Among public policy graduate schools, the University of Maryland School of Public Policy is young, innovative and confident, daring to challenge the established expectations for a school of its kind. Founded in 1981 as a small school with big ideas, we have become a major player in a short period of time, experiencing incredible success and momentum in building our program and earning our reputation. By reaching beyond our intellectual community, we have created a new standard for what schools of public affairs can accomplish.

What sets us apart from our peers?

We expect our students to move, to work and to think across the public, private and nonprofit sectors during their careers and we prepare them accordingly. Our educational approach emphasizes the development of the knowledge, skills and enthusiasm needed to formulate and improve public policies and their management through the use of multidisciplinary tools, scholarly findings, and the insights of the best practitioners.