Academic Common Market (ACM)
Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What Bachelor's degree programs are available through ACM at UMBC?

    Ancient Studies, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Business Technology Administration, Dance, Emergency Health Services, Health Administration and Policy, Management of Aging Services, Media and Communication Studies, and Physics Education.

  2. What is the application process for students interested in UMBC?

    The student initiates the process by applying for admission to UMBC. Once the student has received a letter of admission, he/she initiates the application for ACM with the ACM Coordinator in his/her state, by contacting the higher education commission. Once the student is certified as eligible for ACM by the home state Coordinator, this certification is sent to UMBC's Institution Coordinator, who adjusts the student's UMBC tuition to the in-state rate.

  3. Who are the coordinators for Maryland and UMBC?

    Maryland State Coordinator
    Genny Segura
    Senior Education Policy Analyst
    Maryland Higher Education Commission
    839 Bestgate Road, Suite 400
    Annapolis, MD 21401
    410-260-4536
    gsegura@mhec.state.md.us

    UMBC Institution Coordinator
    Beth Wells
    Assistant to the Vice Provost
    UMBC
    1000 Hilltop Circle
    Baltimore, MD 21250
    410-455-8907
    bwells@umbc.edu

  4. What happens if a student attends an out-of-state university through ACM but later changes his/her major to a program that is available in his/her home state?

    Most ACM institutions will not require the student to pay back tuition for the years that the student received ACM benefits. However, if the student changes majors during a semester, the institution will charge the out-of-state tuition rate for that and subsequent semesters. If the student changes majors to a different program that qualifies to be included in ACM, the student must be recertified by the state coordinator.

  5. Where can I find more information?

    Interested students from Maryland or any participating state are encouraged to contact the UMBC Institution Coordinator, Beth Wells, for more information.

    Maryland Higher Education Commission
    Southern Regional Education Board (SREB – governs the ACM program.