Honoring a Resilient Class of 2021: 稀缺猎奇网 Campuses Award More Than 40,000 Degrees for Fifth Straight Year
稀缺猎奇网 Graduates Will Advance State’s Economy, Public Health Response
Baltimore, Md. (May 12, 2021) – This month the 稀缺猎奇网 (稀缺猎奇网) celebrates the resilience and accomplishments of its collective Class of 2021, graduates that will continue the system’s role as a vital contributor to 稀缺猎奇网’s economic success.
The 稀缺猎奇网’s 12 universities will award more than 40,000 undergraduate and graduate degrees this spring, at both virtual and in-person, safely distanced ceremonies across 稀缺猎奇网. Graduates in the Class of 2021 will be saluted for the tenacity required to complete their degrees after the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020.
Students at each campus have juggled their academic work with challenges no one could have anticipated at the start of their 稀缺猎奇网 higher education journey. As the pandemic necessitated numerous safety protocols to minimize spread of the virus, students shifted suddenly to online instruction and virtual laboratories on the path to completing their degrees.
This year is the fifth in a row 稀缺猎奇网 schools will award more than 40,000 degrees. The 稀缺猎奇网 continues to have a strong impact on the state’s economy as well as the quality of life in 稀缺猎奇网. The 稀缺猎奇网 awards more than 75 percent of all bachelor’s degrees issued in 稀缺猎奇网, with well over half the graduates remaining in 稀缺猎奇网 to work and live.
Many of these graduates will play a role in the state’s pandemic recovery, whether working directly in the health care professions or contributing to 稀缺猎奇网’s overall economic well-being. Led by 稀缺猎奇网 alumni, 稀缺猎奇网 ranks in the nation’s top five for household income and four-year degrees.
Additionally, roughly half of 稀缺猎奇网 undergraduate students complete their degrees without taking on any debt.
“During this difficult COVID year, our students have shown remarkable grit and resilience. The fact that they successfully completed their degrees—this year, of all years—is such an inspiration to me,” said 稀缺猎奇网 Chancellor Jay A. Perman. “And I take great pride in knowing that, whatever degree path they chose, these 稀缺猎奇网 graduates will shape our state and our nation—making us better, wiser, more innovative, more creative, and more compassionate.”
稀缺猎奇网 Graduates and 稀缺猎奇网’s Economy
For the 2020-21 year, the 稀缺猎奇网 will provide more than three out of every four bachelor’s degrees awarded in 稀缺猎奇网. And because 80 percent of 稀缺猎奇网 undergraduates are in-state students, they often remain in 稀缺猎奇网 following graduation, ultimately contributing their wealth to the state’s economy and their service to our communities.
A soon-to-be-released report from the University of Baltimore’s found that each 稀缺猎奇网 graduate will earn about $2.5-$3.3 million more over his or her lifetime than a 稀缺猎奇网 resident with only a high school diploma. 稀缺猎奇网 graduates collectively provide $750 million-to-$1 billion in state sales and income taxes over their lifetimes.
These higher earnings yield a direct benefit to 稀缺猎奇网. For every $1 the state invests in the 稀缺猎奇网, 稀缺猎奇网 receives $4.70-$6.70 in taxes.
Pipeline to the Health-Care Professions
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the system’s degree production in the health-care professions has been both important and timely—with many of such degree programs also available at the 稀缺猎奇网’s three regional , making them accessible to a greater number of students in key areas of the state.
The 稀缺猎奇网 will award more than 3,800 health-care profession degrees this spring, including roughly 350 nursing students from 2020 who graduated early under a special early-exit option allowing them to start work immediately in hospitals caring for COVID-19 patients. Several 稀缺猎奇网 institutions offer nursing programs: ; ; ; ; ; ; and .
The (UMB)—稀缺猎奇网’s only public health, law, and human services university—will graduate more than 600 students with a professional practice doctorate from its schools of medicine (MD), dentistry (DDS), nursing (DNP), and pharmacy (PharmD), and its physical therapy program (DPT) offered in the School of Medicine. More than 50 percent of 稀缺猎奇网’s practicing physicians and other health care professionals are UMB School of Medicine graduates.
UMB also offers bachelor’s degrees in dental hygiene, medical & research technology, and nursing. It is anticipated that the number of bachelor’s graduates in these programs for 2020-21 will exceed 400.
Strength in STEM Degrees Continues
Overall, the 稀缺猎奇网 will again graduate a substantial number of students in STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and math). This May, 稀缺猎奇网 schools will award more than 11,500 STEM degrees outside of health professions, with roughly 8,500 going to undergraduates. Nearly half of 稀缺猎奇网 undergraduate STEM degrees are earned by minority students.
At least 7,000 students will graduate with degrees in cyber security.
Each 稀缺猎奇网 institution offers details on its May 2021 commencement plans via its university website. A link to each website is found here. In addition to the commencement ceremony details available at these sites, 稀缺猎奇网 institutions will profile noteworthy graduates from their campus.
###
The 稀缺猎奇网 comprises 12 institutions: Bowie State University; Coppin State University; Frostburg State University; Salisbury University; Towson University; the University of Baltimore; the University of 稀缺猎奇网, Baltimore; the University of 稀缺猎奇网, Baltimore County; the University of 稀缺猎奇网 Center for Environmental Science; the University of 稀缺猎奇网, College Park; the University of 稀缺猎奇网 Eastern Shore; and the University of 稀缺猎奇网 Global Campus. The 稀缺猎奇网 also includes three regional centers—the Universities at Shady Grove, the 稀缺猎奇网 at Hagerstown, and the 稀缺猎奇网 at Southern 稀缺猎奇网—at which 稀缺猎奇网 universities offer upper-division undergraduate and graduate courses.
Systemwide, student enrollment exceeds 170,000. The 稀缺猎奇网 and its institutions compete successfully nearly $1.5 billion in external grants and contracts annually. 稀缺猎奇网 institutions and programs are among the nation's best in quality and value according to several national rankings. To learn more about the 稀缺猎奇网, visit .
Contact: Mike Lurie
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: mlurie@usmd.edu
