UMBC vs. Columbia

Should I go to University of Maryland Baltimore County or Columbia University in the City of New York? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UMBC or Columbia 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. Columbia University in the City of New York comparison
University of Maryland Baltimore County Columbia University in the City of New York College 3 College 4
University of Maryland Baltimore County Columbia University in the City of New York
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Overview

UMBC Columbia
Location Baltimore, MD New York, NY
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 13,991 34,782
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #303 #22
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umbc.edu columbia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UMBC Columbia
Tuition (In State) $9,056 $62,570
Tuition (Out of State) $25,820 $62,570
Room & Board $13,378 $16,286
Avg Net Price $17,692 $22,058
Avg Grant Aid $8,889 $61,061
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 52%

Admission

UMBC Columbia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,534 60,879
Admitted 9,291 2,404
Acceptance Rate 80.6% 3.9%
Enrolled % 23.1% 64.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.97 3.91
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 23/29 34/35
SAT Range 1210/1390 1490/1580
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, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

UMBC Columbia
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

UMBC Columbia
Graduation Rate 57% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,500 $107,600
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,197 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $219 $222

Diversity

UMBC Columbia
% Men 53% 46%
% Women 47% 54%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 44% 38%
% Black 17% 8%
% Hispanic 6% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 4% 15%
% Unknown Race 4% 3%

Students

UMBC Columbia
% In-State 90% 19%
% Out-of-State 5% 64%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than UMBC based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 13,991 students)

UMBC vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Columbia?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 590.9% more expensive to attend than UMBC for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $9,056.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 142.3% higher at Columbia than University of Maryland Baltimore County ($62,570.00 vs. $25,820.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland Baltimore County than Columbia ($17,692 vs. $22,058)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 21.7% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($13,378 vs. $16,286)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than Columbia University in the City of New York (92% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 586.9% larger than aid received University of Maryland Baltimore County ($61,061 vs. $8,889)

UMBC vs. Columbia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 264 points higher than at UMBC (1209)
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at UMBC (27)
  • 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 (80.6%) than Columbia (3.9%)

UMBC vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County (93% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $48,100 more per year than UMBC graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $59,500)
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County students graduate with a $303 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia graduates. ($21,197 vs. $21,500)
  • UMBC graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans 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/