CSM, UMBC Sign Dual Admissions Agreement
The College of Southern Maryland and University of Maryland, Baltimore County signed a pathway letting eligible students attend both schools and transfer as juniors.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Financial Aid
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The College of Southern Maryland and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County signed a dual admissions agreement on Thursday, November 5. Eligible CSM associate degree holders can transfer to UMBC as juniors, and eligible students may enroll at both schools when they begin college.
Why it matters
The agreement gives Maryland students a defined route from a community college associate degree to a UMBC bachelor's degree, with eligible students potentially completing the bachelor's in two additional years. Access to advising and resources at both institutions may ease transfer for students planning a four-year degree.
The agreement allows up to 70 credits from a CSM degree program to count toward a related UMBC bachelor's degree, with a reverse transfer option. UMBC will award $1,000 merit scholarships to up to five eligible students per year for each of two years of full-time study, though the source does not say how many students are expected to participate.
The players
College of Southern Maryland
A public community college based in La Plata, Maryland, offering associate degrees and transfer pathways to four-year institutions.
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
A public research university in Catonsville, Maryland, and a constituent institution of the University System of Maryland.
The details
Students who transfer before finishing their CSM associate degree may apply eligible UMBC credits toward that degree. Eligible CSM students can also apply general education credits toward UMBC general education requirements, and both institutions will provide eligible students access to academic advising, resources, and student activities.
Timeline
Thursday, November 5, 2026: College of Southern Maryland and UMBC sign the dual admissions agreement at a ceremony.
Season Trajectory
The agreement builds on Maryland's statewide community college transfer framework by adding dual enrollment and a reverse transfer option at a specific pairing. It extends the state's articulation approach into a more integrated route from associate degree to bachelor's degree.
Eligible CSM associate degree holders can plan to transfer to UMBC as juniors, and students who transfer before graduating may apply UMBC credits toward their CSM degree. Students considering the pathway should check eligibility for the $1,000 merit scholarships and the up-to-70-credit transfer limit before enrolling.
The takeaway
Students planning a bachelor's degree in Maryland can use this agreement to map a community college path to UMBC that counts their credits in advance.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Financial Aid in Maryland.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Bay Net.
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