Retirement Benefits
State law requires all regular faculty and staff to enroll in a retirement plan upon employment. Regular faculty and staff, as well as contingent faculty and staff, may also participate in the voluntary supplemental retirement plans.
Retirement Plan Options
Regular Faculty and Exempt Staff
Regular faculty and exempt staff can choose between the Employees' & Teachers' Reformed Contributory Pension Plan and the Optional Retirement Program (ORP). Prior membership in either retirement plan may affect selection.
- The pension plan is available through the Maryland State Retirement & Pension System.
- The Optional Retirement Program (ORP) is available through Fidelity Investments and TIAA.
Choosing Your Retirement Plan
Review the documents below to help you choose your retirement plan.
For more information about the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System:
For more information on ORP:
Non-Exempt Staff
Non-exempt staff must join the pension plan available through the Maryland State Retirement & Pension System.
Law enforcement officers are required to join the Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System (PDF) available through the Maryland State Retirement & Pension System and should contact the Employee Benefits unit in the Office of Human Resources for additional information.
How to Apply
Forms, handbooks, and details about applying for the Pension Plan and the ORP are available below. To ensure your personal information is accurate, please include this form and a proof of birth with all enrollment submissions.
Pension Plan
Thinking of Retiring?
Pension participants:
- Pension Pre-retirement Check List
- Attend a Pre-retirement Planning Training
- Run a benefits estimate through your MySRPS portal.
- MySRPS guides and information.
ORP participants:
- ORP Pre-retirement Check List (PDF)
- Set up a meeting with your vendor. Scroll down to the Schedule An Appointment section below.
Ready for paperwork or have planning questions? Please request an appointment with our Retirement Benefits Specialist via email hrbenefits AT_TOWSON
Voluntary Supplemental Retirement Plans
All faculty and staff are eligible to contribute pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) dollars through payroll deduction to supplemental retirement plans offered through the following vendors: Fidelity Investments, Empower (formerly Nationwide), and TIAA.
Participation is voluntary and may be initiated at any time during the year. Signing up is easy! See more information below.
IRS calendar year contribution limits apply to all accounts. Contribution limits are as follows:
| Plan TYpe | Benefit Year 2025 | Benefit Year 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 401(k)/403(b) | $23,500 | $24,500 |
| 457(b) | $23,500 | $24,500 |
| Age 50+ Catch-up | $31,000 | $32,500 |
| Age 60-63 Super Catch-up | $34,750 | $35,750 |
Supplemental Retirement Plan Contacts (PDF)
- Pre-Tax Supplemental Retirement Comparison (PDF)
- After-Tax Supplemental Retirement Comparison (PDF)
- Employees’ Pension System Supplemental Retirement State Match FAQ (PDF)
Plan Guides:
- Fidelity Investments – Supplemental Plan Documents
- TIAA – Supplemental Plan Documents
- Empower - Supplemental Plan Documents
Maryland State Employees Supplemental Retirement Plans (MSRP)
Effective September 18, 2025, all Maryland State Supplemental Retirement Plans will transition from our current plan administrator, Nationwide, to Empower.
First-Time Enrollment (No Existing MSRP or Empower Account):
You will need your 6-digit Agency Code - TU Agency Code = 360224
Empower Plan Types and Plan Enrollment Codes
- 457(b) Plan Type - 100746-01, PEC: fahjC5Pg
- 401(k) Plan Type - 100746-02, PEC: rK9JSWmv
USM Retirement@Work
USM employees now have access to USM Retirement@Work, a retirement portal that will allow you to enroll or make changes to your account(s) online in real-time.
This is for Fidelity and TIAA customers only.
USM Retirement@Work log in now
USM Retirement@Work Quick Start Guide.
TU's agency number is 360224
Your payroll system is either Regular or Contract, depending on your employee status.
Schedule an Appointment
You can schedule an in-person, virtual, or phone appointment for a one-on-one consultation with a retirement vendor representative: