UMBC vs. Columbia

Comparable Facts

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

Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than UMBC based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 13,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); Columbia University in the City of New York is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1.

UMBC vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Columbia? 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 Columbia ($18,770 vs. $22,520).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 13.8% lower than at Columbia University in the City of New York ($15,146 vs. $17,580).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is 442% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $58,589 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $13,256.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 129.7% higher at Columbia than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $40,570 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $31,275.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at Columbia University in the City of New York (88% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 556.8% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($67,010 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. Columbia Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 220 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
• Incoming Columbia 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; Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Columbia - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; Columbia Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Columbia (3.91).
• UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than Columbia (4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 64.9% at Columbia.

UMBC vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and Columbia? 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).

• Columbia University in the City of New York's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
• Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $48,100 more per year than UMBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland Baltimore County graduates have a $303 lower median loan debt than Columbia graduates ($21,197 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, UMBC graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia graduates ($219 vs. $222).
• More Columbia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.