UMBC vs. City College of New York

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and CUNY City 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
CUNY City College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • City College of New York #313
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • City College of New York -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • City College of New York

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • City College of New York 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • City College of New York
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • City College of New York B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • City College of New York Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • City College of New York
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • City College of New York $117

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • City College of New York 47%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • City College of New York Very High
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • City College of New York No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • City College of New York 15%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • City College of New York 25%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • City College of New York 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • City College of New York 35%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • City College of New York 2%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • City College of New York 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • City College of New York 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UMBC Yes
  • City College of New York Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UMBC No
  • City College of New York No
  • Meal Plan
  • UMBC Yes
  • City College of New York No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UMBC No
  • City College of New York No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UMBC Yes
  • City College of New York Yes

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY City College is larger than UMBC based on total student enrollment (15,544 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); CUNY City College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; CUNY City College 15:1.

UMBC vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or City College of New York? 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 CUNY City College than UMBC ($4,664 vs. $18,770).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 19.6% lower than at CUNY City College ($15,146 vs. $18,840).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is 80.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $5,916 more per year; $13,256.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 104.5% higher at UMBC than at CUNY City College (about $15,985 more per year; $31,275.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County as at CUNY City College (88% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students is 4.5% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($10,203 vs. $9,763).

UMBC vs. City College of New York Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMBC or City College of New York? 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 City College of New York and UMBC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1330) is 80 points higher than at City College of New York (1250).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; CUNY City College 1070/1430.
  • 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; City College of New York - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.77 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than City College of New York (60%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 12.3% at City College of New York.

UMBC vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and City College of New York? 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).

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of about $9,700 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $9,797 lower median loan debt than UMBC graduates ($11,400 vs. $21,197).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $102 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMBC graduates ($117 vs. $219).
  • More UMBC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 52%)

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.