UMBC vs. Cornell

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Cornell University? 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
Cornell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than UMBC based on total student enrollment (26,793 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); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Cornell University 9:1.

UMBC vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Cornell? 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 Cornell ($18,770 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 22% lower than at Cornell University ($15,146 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 422.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $56,058 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 121.6% higher at Cornell than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $38,039 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at Cornell University (88% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 505.5% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($61,779 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 210 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
  • Incoming Cornell 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; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Cornell (3.9).
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

UMBC vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and Cornell? 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).

  • Cornell University's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $38,900 more per year than UMBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $9,197 lower median loan debt than UMBC graduates ($12,000 vs. $21,197).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $95 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMBC graduates ($124 vs. $219).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.