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Maryland TU UNM Mason UTEP UD Penn State NJIT UB Virginia Tech Rutgers UC| University of Maryland Baltimore County | New Mexico State University Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UMBC | NMSU | ||
| Location | Baltimore, MD | Las Cruces, NM | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Midsize Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 14,148 | 14,779 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #263 | #731 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | umbc.edu | nmsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UMBC | NMSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,238 | $6,283 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,594 | $23,407 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,204 | $12,026 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,704 | $8,353 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,956 | $15,073 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 87% | 97% |
Admission |
UMBC | NMSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 13,150 | 15,201 | ||
| Admitted | 9,762 | 11,511 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.2% | 75.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.3% | 20.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.97 | 3.55 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 23/30 | 17/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 885/1110 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
UMBC | NMSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UMBC | NMSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 57% | 46% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,500 | $39,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 67% | 44% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,197 | $17,118 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $219 | $176 |
Diversity |
UMBC | NMSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 14% | 7% | ||
| % Women | 12% | 11% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 44% | 30% | ||
| % Black | 17% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 55% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 2% | ||
| % International | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 3% |
Students |
UMBC | NMSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 85% | 79% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 6% | 19% | ||
Campus |
UMBC | NMSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- New Mexico State University Main Campus is larger than than UMBC based on total student enrollment (14,779 students vs. 14,148 students)
UMBC vs. NMSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UMBC or NMSU?
- University of Maryland Baltimore County is 47% more expensive to attend than NMSU for in-state tuition ($9,238.00 vs. $6,283.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13.6% higher at UMBC than New Mexico State University Main Campus ($26,594.00 vs. $23,407.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at New Mexico State University Main Campus than UMBC ($8,353 vs. $17,704)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at New Mexico State University Main Campus are 18.1% lower than costs at University of Maryland Baltimore County ($12,026 vs. $14,204)
- More students receive financial grant aid at New Mexico State University Main Campus than University of Maryland Baltimore County (97% vs. 87%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by New Mexico State University Main Campus students is 51.4% larger than aid received University of Maryland Baltimore County ($15,073 vs. $9,956)
UMBC vs. NMSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UMBC or NMSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NMSU or UMBC .
- The average SAT score at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1209) is 226 points higher than at NMSU (983)
- Incoming UMBC students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at NMSU (21)
- Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at NMSU (3.55)
- NMSU has a higher acceptance rate (75.7%) than UMBC (74.2%)
UMBC vs. NMSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UMBC or NMSU? 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 NMSU and UMBC.
- The graduation rate at UMBC is higher than New Mexico State University Main Campus (57% vs. 46%)
- Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn on average $20,100 more per year than NMSU graduates after ten years. ($59,500 vs. $39,400)
- New Mexico State University Main Campus students graduate with a $4,079 lower median federal student loan debt than UMBC graduates. ($17,118 vs. $21,197)
- NMSU graduates are paying $43 less per month on federal student loans than UMBC graduates. ($176 vs. $219)
- More UMBC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NMSU students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 44%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/