Which has a more diverse student body: the University of Maryland or Michigan State?

For a student seeking the more racially, ethnically, and internationally diverse day-to-day campus environment, the University of Maryland, College Park is likely the closer fit. Its location in the Washington, D.C. metro area brings together students from a particularly multicultural region, and Maryland has prominent Asian, Black, Latino, immigrant, and international student communities. College Park also gives students easy access to cultural organizations, events, internships, and communities beyond campus in D.C. and nearby Maryland suburbs.

Maryland may feel especially appealing if you want diversity to be visible both in classes and in the surrounding area. Its proximity to federal agencies, embassies, international organizations, and a large immigrant population can make the campus experience feel globally connected. As at any large university, though, the experience varies by major, residence hall, student organization, and friend group.

Michigan State is also a large, diverse public university with students from across the United States and many countries, along with extensive cultural centers and student organizations. It may suit a student who wants a broader traditional Big Ten campus experience and opportunities to meet people from many regions, including a stronger Midwestern presence. East Lansing is more of a college-town setting than College Park, so the off-campus environment is less internationally and culturally dense than the D.C. area.