Towson University Update, Towson MD

Towson University is the fastest growing public college in Maryland, for good reason. It offers many academic programs college-bound students want, in a location that many would like to live in. Less than ten miles from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, Towson has over 17,000 full-time undergraduates, and accommodates over 2,000 who go part time. I have written an update from my last visit and have photos to share.

Founded to train teachers, Towson University grants more education degrees than any school in Maryland. The university also has signature programs in Athletic Training, Business Systems and Processes, Communications, Dance, E-Business, Forensic Chemistry, Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology and Audiology. The business programs are the most popular among the undergraduates. There are more than 60,000 alumni registered in LinkedIn within the Baltimore-Washington Corridor to help, as well as more bus services into a major city than you’re likely to find at most suburban universities. There’s also more shopping and dining options within a mile from campus than you will find at most colleges of any size.

More interesting, Towson University plays fair when it comes to admission into a major. Unlike larger flagship state schools, students apply to the university, not a major. They have enough time to earn the grades to be admitted into any program, even the signature programs. A student who, for example, is undecided between Pre-Med or Nursing, will like Towson for this reason. Towson also plays fair with their Honors College, where admission is by application vs. invitation. Students who are interested in Towson should apply by December 1st for non-binding Early Action, especially if they are interested in the Honors College. The majority of acceptances come through Early Action.

Towson University is not super-selective, attracting a 3.5+ GPA, 1050+ SAT applicant who is also likely to be considering schools such as Penn State-University Park, Rutgers-New Brunswick and the University of Maryland-College Park. In some cases, Towson might be the better academic option, and the less expensive one. Maryland residents have an estimated Total Cost of Attendance of less than $26,000. Non-residents would pay as much as $10,000 less than the out-of-state tuition and fees of schools such as the University of Delaware, among many others.

No college is perfect. Towson University is no exception. While Towson is an NCAA Division 1 school, it is not as “spirit and sports” oriented as the larger state schools; about two-thirds of the students do not live in university housing, commuting from home or off-campus rentals. The community does not bond around events or sports the way the flagships do, in part because fraternities and sororities do not have housing.  The oldest residence halls, constructed from aluminum and concrete,  pale in comparison with the newer accommodations, which are quite nice.

Towson University offers many things that college-bound students are seeking today: relevant curricula, a great location, reasonable costs and connections.  Its graduates are no less prepared  for employment after college than their peers at flagship state schools, and the alumni network is large enough to support them for life.

Report Card: Towson University

• Four-Year/Six-Year Graduation Rates: C+/B
• Freshman Retention: B+
• Costs: A
• Curriculum: A
• Community: B+
• Comforts: B+
• Connections: A (Baltimore/Washington)/B+ (New York Philadelphia)/C+ (Elsewhere)

Check out my update on Towson University!

Check out my Towson University Pinterest Page!

Need help in making your “best fit” college list? Contact me at stuart@educatedquest.com or call me at 609-406-0062.

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