UMBC vs. JCU

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and John Carroll 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
John Carroll University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • JCU University Heights, OH
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • JCU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • JCU 2,864
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • JCU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • JCU #222
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • JCU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • JCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • JCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • JCU $50,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • JCU $50,500
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • JCU $14,520
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • JCU $30,030
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • JCU $35,785
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • JCU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • JCU 4,623
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • JCU 3,740
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • JCU 80.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • JCU 15.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • JCU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • JCU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • JCU 3.66
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • JCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • JCU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • JCU
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • JCU 25/32
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • JCU 1180/1330
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • JCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • JCU

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • JCU 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • JCU $57,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • JCU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • JCU $26,939
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • JCU $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • JCU 51%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • JCU 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • JCU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • JCU No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • JCU 86%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • JCU 2%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • JCU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • JCU 3%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • JCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • JCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • JCU 2%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • JCU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • JCU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • JCU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • JCU 31%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore, MD with John Carroll University in University Heights, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than JCU based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 2,864 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); John Carroll University is in University Heights, OH (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. John Carroll University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; John Carroll University 13:1.

UMBC vs. JCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or JCU? 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 JCU ($18,770 vs. $30,030).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at John Carroll University are 4.1% lower than at University of Maryland Baltimore County ($14,520 vs. $15,146).
  • John Carroll University is 281% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $37,244 more per year; $50,500.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 61.5% higher at JCU than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $19,225 more per year; $50,500.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at John Carroll University than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (100% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by John Carroll University students is 250.7% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($35,785 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. JCU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1330) is 70 points higher than at JCU (1260).
  • Incoming UMBC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 28) as students at JCU (28).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; John Carroll University 1180/1330.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; John Carroll University 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; JCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at JCU (3.66).
  • JCU has a higher acceptance rate (80.9%) than UMBC (72.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 15.9% at JCU.

UMBC vs. JCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and JCU? 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).

  • John Carroll University's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than JCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $57,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland Baltimore County graduates have a $5,742 lower median loan debt than JCU graduates ($21,197 vs. $26,939).
  • Among borrowers, UMBC graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JCU graduates ($219 vs. $278).
  • More JCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.