UMBC vs. ASU

Should I go to University of Maryland Baltimore County or Appalachian State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UMBC or ASU 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.
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University of Maryland Baltimore County vs. Appalachian State University comparison
University of Maryland Baltimore County Appalachian State University College 3 College 4
University of Maryland Baltimore County Appalachian State University
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Overview

 UMBC ASU
Location Baltimore, MD Boone, NC
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 14,148 21,253
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #263 #597
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umbc.edu appstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UMBC ASU
Tuition (In State) $9,238 $4,242
Tuition (Out of State) $26,594 $21,238
Room & Board $14,204 $12,258
Avg Net Price $17,704 $14,712
Avg Grant Aid $9,956 $7,677
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 47%

Admission

 UMBC ASU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,150 24,001
Admitted 9,762 21,275
Acceptance Rate 74.2% 88.6%
Enrolled % 20.3% 19.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.97 3.96
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/30 21/27
SAT Range 1220/1410 1100/1280
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 Feb 1, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

 UMBC ASU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

 UMBC ASU
Graduation Rate 57% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,500 $41,600
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,197 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $219 $211

Diversity

 UMBC ASU
% Men 14% 3%
% Women 12% 6%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 44% 85%
% Black 17% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 UMBC ASU
% In-State 85% 87%
% Out-of-State 6% 13%

Campus

 UMBC ASU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Appalachian State University is larger than than UMBC based on total student enrollment (21,253 students vs. 14,148 students)

UMBC vs. ASU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or ASU?

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is 117.8% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($9,238.00 vs. $4,242.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 25.2% higher at UMBC than Appalachian State University ($26,594.00 vs. $21,238.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than UMBC ($14,712 vs. $17,704)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 15.9% lower than costs at University of Maryland Baltimore County ($12,258 vs. $14,204)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than Appalachian State University (87% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students is 29.7% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($9,956 vs. $7,677)

UMBC vs. ASU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMBC or ASU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ASU or UMBC .

  • The average SAT score at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1209) is 52 points higher than at ASU (1157)
  • Incoming UMBC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at ASU (26)
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at ASU (3.96)
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than UMBC (74.2%)

UMBC vs. ASU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UMBC or ASU? 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 ASU and UMBC.

  • The graduation rate at ASU is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County (65% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn on average $17,900 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($59,500 vs. $41,600)
  • Appalachian State University students graduate with a $697 lower median federal student loan debt than UMBC graduates. ($20,500 vs. $21,197)
  • ASU graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than UMBC graduates. ($211 vs. $219)
  • More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 67%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/