UMBC vs. Salem College

Should I go to University of Maryland Baltimore County or Salem College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UMBC or Salem College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of Maryland Baltimore County vs. Salem College comparison
University of Maryland Baltimore County Salem College College 3 College 4
University of Maryland Baltimore County Salem College
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Overview

UMBC Salem College
Location Baltimore, MD Winston Salem, NC
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 14,148 519
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #263
Religious Affiliation - Moravian Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umbc.edu salem.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UMBC Salem College
Tuition (In State) $9,238 $31,720
Tuition (Out of State) $26,594 $31,720
Room & Board $14,204 $13,056
Avg Net Price $17,704 $19,000
Avg Grant Aid $9,956 $28,860
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 100%

Admission

UMBC Salem College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,150 1,951
Admitted 9,762 1,698
Acceptance Rate 74.2% 87%
Enrolled % 20.3% 9.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.97 3.3
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/30 18/27
SAT Range 1220/1410 1078/1315
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026

Academics

UMBC Salem College
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)

Outcomes

UMBC Salem College
Graduation Rate 57% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,500 $35,000
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,197 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $219 $279

Diversity

UMBC Salem College
% Men 14% 2%
% Women 12% 14%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 44% 55%
% Black 17% 22%
% Hispanic 6% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

UMBC Salem College
% In-State 85% 78%
% Out-of-State 6% 22%

Campus

UMBC Salem College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than than Salem College based on total student enrollment (14,148 students vs. 519 students)

UMBC vs. Salem College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Salem College?

  • Salem College is 243.4% more expensive to attend than UMBC for in-state tuition ($31,720.00 vs. $9,238.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.3% higher at Salem College than University of Maryland Baltimore County ($31,720.00 vs. $26,594.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland Baltimore County than Salem College ($17,704 vs. $19,000)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem College are 8.8% lower than costs at University of Maryland Baltimore County ($13,056 vs. $14,204)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem College than University of Maryland Baltimore County (100% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is 189.9% larger than aid received University of Maryland Baltimore County ($28,860 vs. $9,956)

UMBC vs. Salem College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMBC or Salem College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Salem College or UMBC .

  • The average SAT score at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1209) is 90 points higher than at Salem College (1119)
  • Incoming UMBC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Salem College (25)
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.67 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Salem College (3.3)
  • Salem College has a higher acceptance rate (87%) than UMBC (74.2%)

UMBC vs. Salem College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UMBC or Salem College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Salem College and UMBC.

  • The graduation rate at UMBC is higher than Salem College (57% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn on average $24,500 more per year than Salem College graduates after ten years. ($59,500 vs. $35,000)
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County students graduate with a $5,803 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem College graduates. ($21,197 vs. $27,000)
  • UMBC graduates are paying $60 less per month on federal student loans than Salem College graduates. ($219 vs. $279)
  • More UMBC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem College students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/