University of Maryland - College Park
Travel guide for Indian students — College Park, United States. Nearest international gateway: IAD (Washington Dulles).
The University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) is the flagship public research university of Maryland, just outside Washington, DC, strong in computer science, engineering, business and the sciences. It hosts a large Indian graduate community drawn by its programs and the DC-area job market.
UMD sits in the Washington, DC metro. International flights from India typically arrive at Washington Dulles (IAD), the international gateway, about 35 miles away; Baltimore/Washington (BWI, ~20 mi) and Reagan National (DCA, ~11 mi) are closer for domestic legs. All three connect to campus via Metro, MARC train and shuttle.
UMD has a large Indian graduate community across the Iribe/CS programs, the Clark School of Engineering, business and the sciences, with strong DC-area internship and job links. Because the DC area has three airports, picking the right one matters.
Which airport - and getting to campus
International flights from India generally land at Washington Dulles (IAD, ~35 mi); a few use BWI (~20 mi), while Reagan National (DCA, ~11 mi) is closest but essentially domestic-only for international travel. From IAD, the Silver Line Express bus reaches Metro; from BWI, the B30 bus reaches Greenbelt Metro then one stop to College Park; MARC trains also serve the area.
The College Park route
All routes converge on the College Park-U of MD Metro station (Green Line), where the university's free Shuttle-UM (route 104) takes students onto campus. From BWI the full transit trip is about $6 one-way; taxis run ~$50 from DCA/BWI and ~$70-80 from IAD.
Getting around
WMATA Metrorail and Metrobus serve the whole DC area, and Shuttle-UM runs multiple campus and city routes (to College Park Metro, Silver Spring, New Carrollton). The campus and College Park are walkable.
Visiting your child at UMD means flying into the Washington, DC area - usually Washington Dulles (IAD) for international arrivals, with BWI and Reagan National (DCA) closer for domestic legs. Plan the US visitor visa well ahead.
Getting from IAD to campus
Visitor visa for parents
Indian parents need a B1/B2 visitor visa. First-time interview waits are long and vary sharply by consulate, so city choice matters - you may book at ANY US consulate in India, not just your home city.
- Plan 8-12 months ahead, especially for graduation - graduations do NOT qualify for emergency/expedited appointments.
- You can book at any consulate in India; many families fly to Chennai to save months versus Mumbai or Delhi.
- The dropbox (interview waiver) window shrank from 48 to 12 months in 2025 - most parents with older expired visas now need a full interview.
- Visitor stays are up to 6 months per visit, set by the officer at entry on the I-94.
Just admitted to UMD College Park? Most Indian students enter on an F-1 academic visa (DS-160 fee $185 + SEVIS I-901 fee $350). J-1 is for exchange programs (SEVIS $220), M-1 for vocational study. Spouses/children come on F-2/J-2/M-2 dependent visas. You can enter the US up to 30 days before your program start date. For Fall 2026, Indian F-1 applicants must interview at one of five US consulates in India. International flights from India usually land at Washington Dulles (IAD).
Arrival checklist
- Book your international flight into Washington Dulles (IAD) - the usual international gateway; compare fares via BWI too.
- Reach the College Park-U of MD Metro station, then take the free Shuttle-UM 104 onto campus.
- From BWI, the B30 bus to Greenbelt Metro + one stop to College Park is a cheap route (~$6).
- Confirm student baggage allowance with your airline.
- Carry your I-20, SEVIS receipt and financial documents in hand luggage for US immigration.
Washington DC runs about 11% above the US average, rent included - plan on roughly $1,800-2,700 a month all-in sharing and cooking. The smart play is the suburbs: living on a Metro line in Maryland (College Park, Hyattsville) or Virginia (Arlington, Reston) costs noticeably less than central DC while keeping an easy commute. DC also taxes restaurant meals heavily, so cooking saves more here than in most cities.
Monthly cost of living in College Park (a student estimate)
That's roughly $22,000-32,000 a year for living costs, on top of tuition.
Finding accommodation
DC-area rent is high in the centre but the Metro makes the Maryland/Virginia suburbs viable and cheaper. Most students share or take university housing first year.
- Live near a Metrorail station in MD/VA to cut rent while keeping an easy commute into DC.
- University shuttles (e.g. UMD's Shuttle-UM) connect campus to the Metro - factor that into housing choice.
- DC has a grocery and restaurant tax premium - cooking at home saves notably here.
Working part-time
On an F-1 visa you can work on-campus up to 20 hours/week during term (full-time in breaks). Off-campus work needs authorization - CPT during study, OPT after (up to 12 months, +24 for STEM degrees). You cannot freelance or work off-campus without approval.
Safety & student support
Washington DC is generally safe in the campus and main residential/Metro-served areas, but as in any major city, be mindful of belongings at night and research by neighbourhood.
- Campuses run their own security, escorts and safety apps - use them after dark.
- The Metro is widely used and safe for normal hours; stay in busier areas late at night.
- Suburban campus areas (College Park, Reston) are quieter and generally low-risk; central DC varies by quadrant.
Indian community & food
The DC metro has a large Indian and South Asian community spread across the Maryland and Virginia suburbs, with plenty of groceries, temples and restaurants.
Indian grocery stores
- Priya Spices and Indo-Pak Grocery on Elden St, Herndon (VA) - handy for Trine-Reston students.
- Patel Brothers (Fairfax, 11116 Lee Hwy; and Ashburn) and Raja Bazar (Arlington) across Northern Virginia.
- Maryland-side desi grocers in Langley Park, Gaithersburg and Rockville near the College Park campus.
Student community
- UMD and area universities have large, active Indian/South Asian student associations with major Diwali/Holi events.
- The NoVA and Maryland suburbs host big Indian cultural events and have several Hindu temples.
- Extensive Indian dining across Northern Virginia (Herndon, Fairfax) and the Maryland suburbs.
Cost & living figures for College Park last verified Jun 2026. Figures are estimates and change over time.
Search the whole of FareEagle
Flights, hotels, buses and trip bundles — honest prices.