The
University of Maryland, College Park (often referred to as
The University of Maryland,
Maryland,
UM,
UMD, or
UMCP) is a public research university located in the city of
College Park in
Prince George's County,
Maryland, approximately from the northeast border of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1856, the university is the flagship institution of the
University System of Maryland. With a fall 2010 enrollment of more than 37,000 students, over 100 undergraduate majors, and 120 graduate programs, Maryland is the largest university in the state and the largest in the
Washington Metropolitan Area. It is a member of the
Association of American Universities and competes athletically as a member of the
Big Ten Conference.