UMBC vs. Amherst

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Amherst College? 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.

University of Maryland Baltimore County
Amherst College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • Amherst 1,914
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • Amherst #13
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • Amherst -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • Amherst Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • Amherst

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • Amherst $18,390
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • Amherst $19,049
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • Amherst $68,591
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • Amherst 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • Amherst 13,743
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • Amherst 1,238
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • Amherst 9%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • Amherst 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • Amherst 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • Amherst 3.91
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • Amherst A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • Amherst Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • Amherst Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • Amherst 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • Amherst 1490/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • Amherst Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • Amherst 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • Amherst 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • Amherst $82,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • Amherst 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • Amherst $12,975
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • Amherst $134

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • Amherst 45%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • Amherst 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • Amherst Very High
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • Amherst No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • Amherst 42%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • Amherst 14%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • Amherst 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • Amherst 13%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • Amherst 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • Amherst 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • Amherst 5%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • Amherst 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • Amherst 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • Amherst 13%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • Amherst 70%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); Amherst College is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Amherst College 6:1.

UMBC vs. Amherst Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Amherst? 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 Amherst ($18,770 vs. $19,049).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 17.6% lower than at Amherst College ($15,146 vs. $18,390).
  • Amherst College is 431.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $57,224 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 125.4% higher at Amherst than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $39,205 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at Amherst College (88% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 572.3% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($68,591 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. Amherst Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMBC or Amherst? 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 Amherst and UMBC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 210 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
  • Incoming Amherst students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 28 at UMBC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; Amherst College 1490/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Amherst College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Amherst - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; Amherst Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Amherst (3.91).
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than Amherst (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 38.8% at Amherst.

UMBC vs. Amherst Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and Amherst? 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).

  • Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $22,500 more per year than UMBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $8,222 lower median loan debt than UMBC graduates ($12,975 vs. $21,197).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $85 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMBC graduates ($134 vs. $219).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.