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George Washington Maryland TU Mason Georgetown UD Penn State Fordham NJIT Syracuse UB Virginia Tech| American University | University of Maryland Baltimore County | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
AU | UMBC | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Baltimore, MD | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 13,019 | 14,148 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #84 | #263 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | umbc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | UMBC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,724 | $9,238 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,724 | $26,594 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,012 | $14,204 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $40,189 | $17,704 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,402 | $9,956 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 87% |
Admission |
AU | UMBC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,786 | 13,150 | ||
| Admitted | 8,427 | 9,762 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.4% | 74.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22% | 20.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.97 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 23/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1300/1450 | 1220/1410 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
AU | UMBC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
AU | UMBC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 57% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $59,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 67% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $21,197 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $219 |
Diversity |
AU | UMBC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 14% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 12% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 44% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 17% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 4% |
Students |
AU | UMBC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 85% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 6% | ||
Campus |
AU | UMBC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (14,148 students vs. 13,019 students)
AU vs. UMBC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or UMBC?
- American University is 503.2% more expensive to attend than UMBC for in-state tuition ($55,724.00 vs. $9,238.00)
- Out of state tuition is 109.5% higher at AU than University of Maryland Baltimore County ($55,724.00 vs. $26,594.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland Baltimore County than AU ($17,704 vs. $40,189)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 19.8% lower than costs at American University ($14,204 vs. $17,012)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than American University (87% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 215.4% larger than aid received University of Maryland Baltimore County ($31,402 vs. $9,956)
AU vs. UMBC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or UMBC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UMBC or AU .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 43 points higher than at UMBC (1209)
- Incoming AU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at UMBC (27)
- Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at AU (3.7)
- UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than AU (47.4%)
AU vs. UMBC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or UMBC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UMBC and AU.
- The graduation rate at AU is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County (77% vs. 57%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $5,300 more per year than UMBC graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $59,500)
- University of Maryland Baltimore County students graduate with a $3,053 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($21,197 vs. $24,250)
- UMBC graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($219 vs. $250)
- More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 67%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/