UMBC vs. MHC

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Mount Holyoke College? 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
Mount Holyoke College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • MHC 2,275
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • MHC #81
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • MHC -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • MHC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • MHC $67,018
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • MHC $67,018
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • MHC $19,684
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • MHC $32,526
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • MHC $52,418
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • MHC 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • MHC 5,226
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • MHC 1,883
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • MHC 36%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • MHC 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • MHC 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • MHC 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • MHC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • MHC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • MHC High
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • MHC 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • MHC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • MHC 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • MHC 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • MHC $50,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • MHC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • MHC $21,206
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • MHC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • MHC 1%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • MHC 99%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • MHC Very High
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • MHC No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • MHC 45%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • MHC 10%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • MHC 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • MHC 8%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • MHC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • MHC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • MHC 4%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • MHC 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • MHC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • MHC 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • MHC 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore, MD with Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than MHC based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); Mount Holyoke College is in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Mount Holyoke College 9:1.

UMBC vs. MHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or MHC? 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 MHC ($18,770 vs. $32,526).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 23.1% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($15,146 vs. $19,684).
  • Mount Holyoke College is 405.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $53,762 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 114.3% higher at MHC than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $35,743 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at Mount Holyoke College (88% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Holyoke College students is 413.8% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($52,418 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. MHC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Mount Holyoke College (1460) is 130 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
  • Incoming MHC students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 28 at UMBC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Mount Holyoke College 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; MHC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; MHC Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at MHC (3.87).
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than MHC (36%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 27.2% at MHC.

UMBC vs. MHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and MHC? 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).

  • Mount Holyoke College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland Baltimore County graduates have a $9 lower median loan debt than MHC graduates ($21,197 vs. $21,206).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Mount Holyoke College and UMBC graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($219 vs. $219).
  • More MHC 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.