UMBC vs. BC

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Bridgewater 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
Bridgewater College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • BC Bridgewater, VA
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • BC Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • BC 1,448
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • BC #623
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • BC Church of Brethren
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • BC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • BC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • BC $16,090
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • BC $16,090
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • BC $14,850
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • BC $11,316
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • BC $47,288
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • BC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • BC 3,938
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • BC 3,612
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • BC 91.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • BC 10.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • BC 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • BC
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • BC 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • BC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • BC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • BC
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • BC
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • BC 1020/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • BC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • BC May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • BC 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • BC
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • BC 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • BC $43,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • BC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • BC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • BC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • BC 52%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • BC 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • BC Low
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • BC No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • BC 73%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • BC 1%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • BC 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • BC 5%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • BC 5%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • BC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • BC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • BC 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • BC 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 1,448 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); Bridgewater College is in Bridgewater, VA (Small Suburban setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bridgewater College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Bridgewater College 13:1.

UMBC vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or BC? 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 Bridgewater College than UMBC ($11,316 vs. $18,770).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater College are 2% lower than at University of Maryland Baltimore County ($14,850 vs. $15,146).
  • Bridgewater College is 21.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $2,834 more per year; $16,090.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 94.4% higher at UMBC than at Bridgewater College (about $15,185 more per year; $31,275.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater College than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (100% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 363.5% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($47,288 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. BC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1330) is 140 points higher than at BC (1190).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; Bridgewater College 1020/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; BC May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at BC (3.61).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (91.7%) than UMBC (72.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 10.1% at BC.

UMBC vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and BC? 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).

  • Bridgewater College's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of about $16,400 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland Baltimore County graduates have a $5,803 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($21,197 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UMBC graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($219 vs. $279).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.