UMBC vs. Barnard

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Barnard 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
Barnard College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • Barnard Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • Barnard #35
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • Barnard -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • Barnard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • Barnard $63,131
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • Barnard 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • Barnard 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • Barnard 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • Barnard A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • Barnard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • Barnard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • Barnard 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • Barnard 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • Barnard 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • Barnard $184

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • Barnard 2%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • Barnard 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • Barnard High
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • Barnard No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • Barnard 53%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • Barnard 14%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • Barnard 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • Barnard 12%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • Barnard 6%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • Barnard 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • Barnard 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • Barnard 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • Barnard 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UMBC vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Barnard? 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 Barnard ($18,770 vs. $26,407).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 30.2% lower than at Barnard College ($15,146 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 427.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $56,632 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 123.5% higher at Barnard than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $38,613 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at Barnard College (88% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 518.7% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($63,131 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. Barnard Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 190 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
  • Incoming Barnard students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 28 at UMBC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; Barnard College 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Barnard College 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Barnard - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Barnard (3.85).
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than Barnard (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

UMBC vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and Barnard? 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).

  • Barnard College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from Barnard College earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than UMBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,900 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $3,350 lower median loan debt than UMBC graduates ($17,847 vs. $21,197).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMBC graduates ($184 vs. $219).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.