UMBC vs. FDU

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus? 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
Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • FDU Madison, NJ
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • FDU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • FDU 2,885
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • FDU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • FDU #391
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • FDU -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • FDU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • FDU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • FDU $38,004
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • FDU $38,004
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • FDU $16,270
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • FDU $25,585
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • FDU $28,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • FDU 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • FDU 5,652
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • FDU 5,380
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • FDU 95.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • FDU 10.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • FDU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • FDU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • FDU 3.42
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • FDU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • FDU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • FDU
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • FDU 19/30
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • FDU 1040/1310
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • FDU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • FDU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • FDU 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • FDU
    • Business (34%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • FDU 55%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • FDU $52,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • FDU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • FDU $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • FDU $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • FDU 43%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • FDU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • FDU Medium
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • FDU No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • FDU 58%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • FDU 4%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • FDU 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • FDU 16%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • FDU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • FDU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • FDU 2%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • FDU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • FDU 7%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • FDU 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • FDU 14%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore, MD with Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus in Madison, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than FDU based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 2,885 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is in Madison, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 11:1.

UMBC vs. FDU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or FDU? 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 FDU ($18,770 vs. $25,585).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 6.9% lower than at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus ($15,146 vs. $16,270).
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is 186.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $24,748 more per year; $38,004.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.5% higher at FDU than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $6,729 more per year; $38,004.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (100% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus students is 177.3% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($28,294 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. FDU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1330) is 150 points higher than at FDU (1180).
  • Incoming UMBC students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 24 at FDU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 1040/1310.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 19/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; FDU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at FDU (3.42).
  • FDU has a higher acceptance rate (95.2%) than UMBC (72.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 10.5% at FDU.

UMBC vs. FDU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and FDU? 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 Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus's (55%).
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than FDU graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $52,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland Baltimore County graduates have a $4,803 lower median loan debt than FDU graduates ($21,197 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, UMBC graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FDU graduates ($219 vs. $268).
  • More UMBC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FDU students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 60%)

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.