McDaniel College

McDaniel College is a nationally recognized four–year, independent college of the liberal arts and sciences. Founded in 1867 as one of the first coeducational colleges in the nation and the first south of the Mason–Dixon Line, McDaniel is a diverse, student–centered community of 1,800 undergraduates and 1,400 graduate students. As one of the Colleges That Change Lives, McDaniel is committed to access and affordability. More than 90 percent of students receive some type of financial assistance and McDaniel invests over $50 million annually in grants and scholarships. Students can choose from more than 70 undergraduate programs of study, including pre–professional specializations and student–designed majors, plus over 20 graduate programs. Academics center on the McDaniel Plan, a customized, interdisciplinary curriculum that emphasizes experiential learning and student–faculty collaboration to develop the unique potential in every student. The McDaniel Commitment guarantees every student two experiential learning opportunities, including service learning, study abroad, student–faculty collaborative research, credit–based internship or independent study. Students also enroll in first–year seminars and senior capstone projects and can take specially designed courses both on and off campus during McDaniel's three–week January Term. Special opportunities abound through McDaniel's Center for Experience and Opportunity, Program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Honors Program, Green Terror Army ROTC Battalion, National Security Fellows, and Global Fellows. The Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS) is available to assist all students with documented disabilities and works with each student on a case–by–case basis. Represented by the Green Terror, its over 20 athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference. Additionally, students are involved in almost 100 student organizations, intramural sports, and fraternities and sororities. McDaniel offers access to both Baltimore and Washington, D.C., plus a European campus in Budapest, Hungary.

McDaniel's diverse student–centered community of 1,800 undergraduates and 1,400 graduate students come from over 30 states and Washington, D.C., and 30 countries. Over 40% identify as first–generation college students.

Students are involved in almost 100 student organizations, intramural sports, and fraternities and sororities. More than 20 national and international honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa, recognize leadership, service, and academic achievement. One–third of students compete in one or more of over 20 athletic teams in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference.

McDaniel "is a small, tight-knit community, where peers become close both in and out of the classroom" and most everyone seems "to have a clear goal of what they want to do here and how." Agrees one student, "They are very supportive and understanding." Students are also bonded by the fact that around 80 percent of students live on campus, and "are involved not just with the college community but with the broader community." This is all the more impressive given that there are "a multitude of students with their own identities," with one student pointing to "the cinema program and interesting clubs like a witchcraft club, photography, our own chapter of the American Marketing Association, and a lot more." Students are simultaneously "very diverse in personality and very inclusive," and one proudly says that "We are not all interested in the same subjects but [we] support each other in our individual pursuits."

Students find McDaniel College's campus to be so beautiful that they'll find any reason to be outside, whether it's setting up hammocks, socializing, studying, or simply "walking around campus, [which] is very enjoyable because of how nice it is." Many "that go to McDaniel are athletes, and ...if you aren't on a sports team you are most likely in some type of club that takes up your time"; there is also "the option where if you don't see a club you can always start it." The school offers a full lineup of programming through its various offices and organizations, "including weekend blitzes once per month where people go out to a sports game or a theme park or an endless amount of places," and "many people participate in small events on campus sponsored by the CEO (Center for Experience & Opportunity), ODEI (Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), and student-led clubs after attending classes in the daytime."

Students at McDaniel College appreciate that their school’s small size means “everyone gets a chance to be noticed and…explore multiple career opportunities and interests.” Undergraduates enter the workforce having encountered hands-on learning experiences from “dedicated professors” and “countless opportunities to excel within my desired field and career.” The Center for Experience and Opportunity (CEO) offers competitive scholarships and grants to fund innovative business plans, non-profit endeavors, and research proposals that students can parlay into fulfilling careers. The Program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers event challenges and mentorships that foster connections with alumni and employers. Students are able to turn relationships into employment opportunities when they follow up on job fair and recruiter introductions by using the Handshake platform and the LinkedIn alumni community. Students point to the long-term benefits provided by “all the events that the school does,” which enable truly meaningful social interactions and “community support from local businesses with guest speakers.” Graduates of McDaniel fare happily in the job market, with a median starting salary of $59,300 according to those surveyed at PayScale.com, and 58 percent reporting feeling their work is making a meaningful impact.