University of Maryland, College Park is the flagship institution of the University System of Maryland. It is the largest university in both the state of Maryland and the Washington Metropolitan area.
Chartered as the Maryland Agricultural College in 1856, the school originally opened its doors to a total of 34 enrolled students. Today, University of Maryland is regarded as a "public ivy," and is ranked 53rd in the U.S. News and World Report's Best Colleges of 2009.