AU vs. UMBC

Should I go to American University or University of Maryland Baltimore County? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or UMBC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

George Washington Maryland TU Mason Georgetown UD Penn State Fordham NJIT Syracuse UB Virginia Tech
American University vs. University of Maryland Baltimore County comparison
American University University of Maryland Baltimore County College 3 College 4
American University University of Maryland Baltimore County
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

AU UMBC
Location Washington, DC Baltimore, MD
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 13,885 13,991
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #303
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu umbc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU UMBC
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $9,056
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $25,820
Room & Board $15,706 $13,378
Avg Net Price $41,369 $17,692
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $8,889
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 92%

Admission

AU UMBC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 11,534
Admitted 7,926 9,291
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 80.6%
Enrolled % 22.2% 23.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.97
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/32 23/29
SAT Range 1290/1430 1210/1390
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, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

AU UMBC
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

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 37% 53%
% Women 63% 47%
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% 90%
% Out-of-State 94% 5%

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 (13,991 students vs. 13,885 students)

AU vs. UMBC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or UMBC?

  • American University is 486% more expensive to attend than UMBC for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $9,056.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 105.5% higher at AU than University of Maryland Baltimore County ($53,070.00 vs. $25,820.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland Baltimore County than AU ($17,692 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 17.4% lower than costs at American University ($13,378 vs. $15,706)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than American University (92% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 205.3% larger than aid received University of Maryland Baltimore County ($27,138 vs. $8,889)

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 (80.6%) than AU (40.6%)

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/