UMBC vs. Oberlin

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Oberlin 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
Oberlin College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • Oberlin #153
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • Oberlin -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • Oberlin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • Oberlin 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • Oberlin 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • Oberlin A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • Oberlin High
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • Oberlin $274

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • Oberlin 41%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • Oberlin 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • Oberlin Medium
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • Oberlin No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • Oberlin 68%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • Oberlin 4%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • Oberlin 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • Oberlin 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • Oberlin 82%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than Oberlin based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 2,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UMBC vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Oberlin? 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 Oberlin ($18,770 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 22.4% lower than at Oberlin College ($15,146 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 408.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $54,110 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 115.4% higher at Oberlin than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $36,091 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (99% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oberlin College students is 250.7% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($35,780 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 110 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
  • Incoming Oberlin 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; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Oberlin College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Oberlin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

UMBC vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and Oberlin? 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).

  • Oberlin College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of about $15,600 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland Baltimore County graduates have a $5,382 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($21,197 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, UMBC graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($219 vs. $274).
  • More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.