Towson University
78%
Acceptance rate
$33,198
Tuition/yr
21,000
Enrollment
About Towson University
Public research university in Towson, Maryland. Strong education, business, and STEM programs.
Towson University (TU) is a public comprehensive university located in Towson, Maryland, about 8 miles north of Baltimore. Founded in 1866, it is the largest public university in the Baltimore area and enrolls approximately 19,700 students across more than 110 undergraduate and nearly 50 graduate programs.
TU's strongest academic areas include cybersecurity, business, health professions, and education. The National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security have designated Towson a National Center of Academic Excellence in both Cyber Defense (since 2002) and Cyber Operations (since 2013), making it one of only 21 U.S. institutions with both designations. The College of Business and Economics ranks among the top 30 public undergraduate business schools in the country, and the Occupational Therapy graduate program is ranked tied for No. 23 nationally by U.S. News.
The campus sits in a suburban setting in Baltimore County, with easy access to Baltimore city and Washington, D.C. by commuter rail. In the 2026 U.S. News rankings, TU is ranked the 3rd best public university in the North, and the Wall Street Journal ranked it the No. 1 public university in Maryland in 2026. The university also ranked No. 1 in North America for gender equality by Times Higher Education's 2025 Impact Rankings.
World University Rankings
Campus & Location
MD
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates qualify for 12-month OPT. STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- Nepal is one of the top five source countries for F-1 international students at Towson, meaning there is an established Nepali student community on campus, and the university's APIMEDA (Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern and Desi American) Student Development program provides dedicated support for South Asian students.
- Towson offers two merit scholarships open to international undergraduates: the International Student Scholarship ($8,000/year for a 3.50 GPA and IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 77+) and the You Are Welcome Here scholarship, which can cover approximately half of tuition, both applied for through the admission application.
- The cybersecurity and computer science programs carry NSA/DHS national designation, making TU a strong fit for Nepali students targeting the U.S. technology and information security sector, where OPT (12 months) and STEM OPT extension (24 months, for eligible STEM degrees) allow up to 3 years of post-graduation U.S. work authorization.
- At roughly $33,200/year in tuition and fees for 2026-2027, Towson is a mid-cost public university compared to flagship state schools and private universities, and its Baltimore location offers part-time work opportunities and proximity to federal agencies and tech employers in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia corridor.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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