Is the University of Maryland or William & Mary harder to get into?

William & Mary is generally harder to get into for undergraduate admission overall. It enrolls a smaller class and has a more selective, liberal-arts-oriented applicant pool, while the University of Maryland, College Park admits a larger and broader range of students across many colleges and majors. Both are strong public universities, but William & Mary is typically viewed as the more selective option.

William & Mary tends to suit students looking for a smaller undergraduate community, close faculty interaction, and a campus culture centered heavily on the liberal arts and undergraduate academics. Strong grades in a demanding curriculum matter substantially there, and Virginia residency is an important factor in a public institution’s admissions process.

Maryland is still selective, especially for certain programs. Computer science, engineering, business, and other high-demand pathways can be notably competitive, so admission to Maryland should not be treated as automatic just because its overall undergraduate class is larger. Maryland also gives meaningful consideration to in-state applicants.

For a student applying to both, it is sensible to regard William & Mary as the more difficult admission target in most cases, while treating Maryland as a competitive match or reach depending on residency, academic record, and intended major. A student applying to Maryland for a capped or highly sought-after program may find the practical level of competition closer to William & Mary than the overall comparison implies.