First Look Fair took place in the McKeldin Mall right by the ODK Fountain in Wednesday, September 17.

Business Insider ranks this university ninth in a recent list of the top 100 smartest public schools in America.

The university ranked above University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as well as Ohio State University, but sits just below UCLA as well as the University of Michigan.

Every year, the university’s admissions requirements become increasingly more competitive. This year, the fall 2014 freshman profile revealed the average accepted student’s high school GPA was 4.15 and an SAT combined score between 1260-1410. This is compared with fall 2010, which had an average GPA of 3.97 and an SAT combined score between 1220-1380, according to this university’s Office of Research, Planning & Assessment.

Jonathan Wai, a Duke talent identification program researcher, determined each university’s ranking based on its reported standardized test scores to US News & World Report.

To learn more about the Business Insider ranking scale, read here.

Public universities are an affordable way for students to receive a top-tier education, according to Business Insider. The average cost to attend an in-state public university this school year is $8,893, whereas the average cost to attend a private university is $30,094, according to College Data.

Many students are not shocked by the university’s ranking.

“As a non-Maryland resident, I’m not at all surprised that UMD made it into the top ten,” said Jessica Martins, a freshman enrolled in letters and sciences.

University students have different explanations for this university’s ranking.

“The move to the Big Ten draws more people in the middle part of the country over to our school, which promotes higher quality academia and more diversity,” said Sam Lipsky, a sophomore psychology major.

The ranking affirms why many students decided to attend this university.

“It surprises me a little bit, but I know UMD is a well-respected school,” said Justin Meyer, a sophomore journalism major. “That’s why most of us decided to come here.”