AU vs. UMBC

Deciding between American University and University of Maryland Baltimore County? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American University
University of Maryland Baltimore County

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • UMBC 13,906
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • UMBC #257
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • UMBC -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • UMBC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • UMBC $13,256
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • UMBC $31,275
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • UMBC $15,146
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • UMBC $18,770
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • UMBC $10,203
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • UMBC 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • UMBC 14,325
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • UMBC 10,375
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • UMBC 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • UMBC 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • UMBC 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • UMBC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • UMBC Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • UMBC Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • UMBC 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • UMBC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • UMBC 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • UMBC 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • UMBC $59,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • UMBC 67%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • UMBC $21,197
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • UMBC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • UMBC 54%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • UMBC 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • UMBC Very High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • UMBC No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • UMBC 44%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • UMBC 20%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • UMBC 17%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • UMBC 6%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • UMBC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • UMBC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • UMBC 4%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • UMBC 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • UMBC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • UMBC 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • UMBC 4%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • UMBC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • UMBC No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • UMBC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • UMBC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU Yes
  • UMBC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with University of Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); University of Maryland Baltimore County is in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1.

AU vs. UMBC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or UMBC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland Baltimore County than AU ($18,770 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 15.8% lower than at American University ($15,146 vs. $17,982).
  • American University is 343.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $45,515 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 87.9% higher at AU than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $27,496 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at American University (88% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 256.3% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($36,349 vs. $10,203).

AU vs. UMBC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or UMBC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UMBC and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is 40 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
  • Incoming AU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at UMBC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; UMBC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; UMBC Feb 1, 2027.
  • 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 (72.4%) than AU (62%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 21.6% at UMBC.

AU vs. UMBC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and UMBC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • American University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than UMBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland Baltimore County graduates have a $3,053 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($21,197 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, UMBC graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.