UMBC vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

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

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Wilkes Barre is in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1.

UMBC vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes Barre than UMBC ($16,621 vs. $18,770).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 0.8% lower than at Penn State Wilkes Barre ($15,146 vs. $15,274).
• Penn State Wilkes Barre is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $1,024 more per year; $14,280.00 vs. $13,256.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.3% higher at UMBC than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $7,269 more per year; $31,275.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (89% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students is 4.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($10,203 vs. $9,742).

UMBC vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMBC or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Wilkes-Barre and UMBC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1330) is 120 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than UMBC (72.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

UMBC vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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).

• University of Maryland Baltimore County's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than Penn State Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre graduates ($21,197 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, UMBC graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($219 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Wilkes-Barre 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.