UMBC vs. Fordham

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

 UMBC Fordham
Location Baltimore, MD Bronx, NY
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 14,148 16,153
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #263 #126
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umbc.edu fordham.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UMBC Fordham
Tuition (In State) $9,238 $60,335
Tuition (Out of State) $26,594 $60,335
Room & Board $14,204 $23,075
Avg Net Price $17,704 $45,368
Avg Grant Aid $9,956 $33,278
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 94%

Admission

 UMBC Fordham
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,150 43,663
Admitted 9,762 24,573
Acceptance Rate 74.2% 56.3%
Enrolled % 20.3% 9.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.97 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 23/30 30/33
SAT Range 1220/1410 1330/1490
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, 2026 Jan 1, 2026

Academics

 UMBC Fordham
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

 UMBC Fordham
Graduation Rate 57% 78%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,500 $64,200
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,197 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $219 $268

Diversity

 UMBC Fordham
% Men 14% 13%
% Women 12% 23%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 44% 59%
% Black 17% 4%
% Hispanic 6% 14%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 4% 7%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 UMBC Fordham
% In-State 85% 37%
% Out-of-State 6% 55%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Fordham University is larger than than UMBC based on total student enrollment (16,153 students vs. 14,148 students)

UMBC vs. Fordham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Fordham?

  • Fordham University is 553.1% more expensive to attend than UMBC for in-state tuition ($60,335.00 vs. $9,238.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 126.9% higher at Fordham than University of Maryland Baltimore County ($60,335.00 vs. $26,594.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland Baltimore County than Fordham ($17,704 vs. $45,368)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 62.5% lower than costs at Fordham University ($14,204 vs. $23,075)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fordham University than University of Maryland Baltimore County (94% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fordham University students is 234.3% larger than aid received University of Maryland Baltimore County ($33,278 vs. $9,956)

UMBC vs. Fordham Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Fordham University (1273) is 64 points higher than at UMBC (1209)
  • Incoming Fordham students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at UMBC (27)
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Fordham (3.67)
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than Fordham (56.3%)

UMBC vs. Fordham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Fordham is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County (78% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from Fordham University earn on average $4,700 more per year than UMBC graduates after ten years. ($64,200 vs. $59,500)
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County students graduate with a $4,803 lower median federal student loan debt than Fordham graduates. ($21,197 vs. $26,000)
  • UMBC graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than Fordham graduates. ($219 vs. $268)
  • More Fordham graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 67%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/