UMBC vs. Ohio State

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Ohio State University Main Campus? 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
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore, MD with Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than UMBC based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 13,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

UMBC vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Ohio State? 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 Ohio State ($18,770 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 2.7% lower than at University of Maryland Baltimore County ($14,738 vs. $15,146).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is 0.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $12 more per year; $13,256.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 28% higher at Ohio State than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $8,747 more per year; $40,022.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at Ohio State University Main Campus (88% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students is 28.9% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($13,151 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 70 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at UMBC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than Ohio State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

UMBC vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and Ohio State? 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).

  • Ohio State University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland Baltimore County graduates have a $303 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($21,197 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UMBC graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($219 vs. $222).
  • More UMBC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 63%)

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.