UMBC vs. Lehigh

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Lehigh 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
Lehigh University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore, MD with Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

UMBC vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Lehigh? 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 Lehigh ($18,770 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 12% lower than at Lehigh University ($15,146 vs. $17,220).
  • Lehigh University is 390.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $51,724 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 107.8% higher at Lehigh than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $33,705 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at Lehigh University (88% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 358% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($46,731 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 110 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
  • Incoming Lehigh students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at UMBC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Lehigh (3.81).
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

UMBC vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and Lehigh? 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).

  • Lehigh University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $29,700 more per year than UMBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland Baltimore County graduates have a $3,059 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($21,197 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers, UMBC graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($219 vs. $250).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.