The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), a public historically black land-grant research university located in Princess Anne, Maryland, is part of the University System of Maryland. Classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity," UMES has undergone numerous transformations since its establishment. Originally founded as the Delaware Conference Academy, the university has also been known as Princess Anne Academy and other names throughout its rich history.
UMES, a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, was founded on September 13, 1886, by the Delaware Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Benjamin and Portia Bird welcomed nine students that day to a repurposed farmhouse on a 16-acre property. Initially envisioned as a preparatory school for Baltimore’s Centenary Biblical Institute (now Morgan State University), the institution quickly grew. By the end of its first academic year, the Delaware Conference Academy in Princess Anne had enrolled 37 students.
Academics
Maryland State College officially became the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) on July 1, 1970. Today, it is one of 12 public institutions within the University System of Maryland. Located in Princess Anne, the UMES main campus spans 745 acres. The university also manages a 385-acre research farm in southern Somerset County and the Paul S. Sarbanes Coastal Ecology Center, situated on eight acres near Assateague Island in Worcester County.
UMES provides education in 37 undergraduate programs, 15 master’s degrees, and eight doctoral programs, 27 of which hold peer accreditation. In 2020, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $20 million to UMES, marking the largest single contribution in the university’s history.
The university is organised into five schools:
- School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences
- School of Education, Social Sciences, and the Art
- School of Business and Technology
- School of Pharmacy and Health Professions
- School of Graduate Studies
What is the University of Maryland Eastern Shore US News National Rankings 2025?
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore ranks 388 according to the US News National Rankings 2025.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore Global Ranking
The University is still awaiting its official rankings from prominent organisations such as QS, Times Higher Education, and US News and World Report. Despite its growing reputation and contributions to academia, the university has not yet been featured in the rankings published by these influential bodies. But it has been ranked at #388 in national universities of the U.S. News in 2025.
Although the University continues to develop its academic programs and research initiatives, it remains unranked by these major international ranking institutions. The absence of a ranking from QS, Times Higher Education, and US News does not reflect the quality of education or research output but simply indicates that the university has not been formally assessed by these specific agencies.
You can use our tool College Finder to discover more about such universities.
Frequently asked questions on University of Maryland Eastern Shore Ranking 2025
1: What is the application deadline?
A: The fall priority deadline is February 15th, the fall commitment deadline is May 1st. The spring deadline is December 1st. However, UMES continues to evaluate applications on a space-available basis.
2: What are the requirements for a transfer student?
A: In order to be considered a transfer student, you must have earned 24 college credits and have a 2.0 GPA.