UMBC vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Penn State 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
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Main Campus is larger than UMBC based on total student enrollment (50,737 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); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

UMBC vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Penn 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 Penn State ($18,770 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 4.4% lower than at University of Maryland Baltimore County ($14,474 vs. $15,146).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 55.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $7,388 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 33.6% higher at Penn State than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $10,515 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at Penn State Main Campus (88% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 11.1% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($11,336 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1330) is the same as at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at UMBC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027.
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

UMBC vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and Penn 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland Baltimore County graduates have a $5,621 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($21,197 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, UMBC graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($219 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.