UMBC vs. RPI

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? 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
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore, MD with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

UMBC vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or RPI? 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 RPI ($18,770 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 16.4% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($15,146 vs. $18,120).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 383.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $50,825 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 104.9% higher at RPI than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $32,806 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (95% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 326.5% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($43,517 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. RPI Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 110 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
  • Incoming RPI 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; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at RPI (3.88).
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than RPI (63.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 12.1% at RPI.

UMBC vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and RPI? 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).

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $23,000 more per year than UMBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland Baltimore County graduates have a $6,303 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($21,197 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, UMBC graduates have an estimated $65 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($219 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.