UMBC vs. Lafayette College

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

UMBC Lafayette College
Location Baltimore, MD Easton, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 13,991 2,729
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #303 #65
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umbc.edu lafayette.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UMBC Lafayette College
Tuition (In State) $9,056 $58,110
Tuition (Out of State) $25,820 $58,110
Room & Board $13,378 $17,336
Avg Net Price $17,692 $37,186
Avg Grant Aid $8,889 $24,981
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 98%

Admission

UMBC Lafayette College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,534 10,500
Admitted 9,291 3,531
Acceptance Rate 80.6% 33.6%
Enrolled % 23.1% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.97 3.53
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 23/29 30/33
SAT Range 1210/1390 1330/1480
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, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

UMBC Lafayette College
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Engineering (19%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

UMBC Lafayette College
Graduation Rate 57% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,500 $81,000
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 91%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,197 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $219 $268

Diversity

UMBC Lafayette College
% Men 53% 50%
% Women 47% 50%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 44% 67%
% Black 17% 5%
% Hispanic 6% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 4% 9%
% Unknown Race 4% 7%

Students

UMBC Lafayette College
% In-State 90% 16%
% Out-of-State 5% 76%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (13,991 students vs. 2,729 students)

UMBC vs. Lafayette College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Lafayette College?

  • Lafayette College is 541.7% more expensive to attend than UMBC for in-state tuition ($58,110.00 vs. $9,056.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 125.1% higher at Lafayette College than University of Maryland Baltimore County ($58,110.00 vs. $25,820.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland Baltimore County than Lafayette College ($17,692 vs. $37,186)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 29.6% lower than costs at Lafayette College ($13,378 vs. $17,336)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lafayette College than University of Maryland Baltimore County (98% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 181% larger than aid received University of Maryland Baltimore County ($24,981 vs. $8,889)

UMBC vs. Lafayette College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Lafayette College (1294) is 85 points higher than at UMBC (1209)
  • Incoming Lafayette College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at UMBC (27)
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Lafayette College (3.53)
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (80.6%) than Lafayette College (33.6%)

UMBC vs. Lafayette College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UMBC or Lafayette College? 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 Lafayette College and UMBC.

  • The graduation rate at Lafayette College is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County (88% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from Lafayette College earn on average $21,500 more per year than UMBC graduates after ten years. ($81,000 vs. $59,500)
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County students graduate with a $4,803 lower median federal student loan debt than Lafayette College graduates. ($21,197 vs. $26,000)
  • UMBC graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than Lafayette College graduates. ($219 vs. $268)
  • More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 67%)

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