UMBC vs. Salisbury

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Salisbury University? 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
Salisbury University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • Salisbury Salisbury, MD
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • Salisbury Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • Salisbury 7,025
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • Salisbury Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • Salisbury #352
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • Salisbury -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • Salisbury Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • Salisbury

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • Salisbury $11,084
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • Salisbury $22,174
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • Salisbury $13,900
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • Salisbury $18,760
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • Salisbury $9,124
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • Salisbury 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • Salisbury 8,845
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • Salisbury 7,737
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • Salisbury 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • Salisbury 18.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • Salisbury 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • Salisbury 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • Salisbury 3.73
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • Salisbury A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • Salisbury Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • Salisbury
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • Salisbury 20/29
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • Salisbury 1180/1320
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • Salisbury Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • Salisbury Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • Salisbury 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Salisbury
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • Salisbury 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • Salisbury $52,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • Salisbury 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • Salisbury $20,153
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • Salisbury $208

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • Salisbury 42%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • Salisbury 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • Salisbury Medium
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • Salisbury No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • Salisbury 71%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • Salisbury 3%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • Salisbury 13%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • Salisbury 4%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • Salisbury 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • Salisbury 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • Salisbury 4%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • Salisbury 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • Salisbury 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • Salisbury 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • Salisbury 17%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than Salisbury based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 7,025 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UMBC vs. Salisbury Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Salisbury? 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 Salisbury University than UMBC ($18,760 vs. $18,770).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salisbury University are 8.2% lower than at University of Maryland Baltimore County ($13,900 vs. $15,146).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is 19.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Salisbury (about $2,172 more per year; $13,256.00 vs. $11,084.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41% higher at UMBC than at Salisbury University (about $9,101 more per year; $31,275.00 vs. $22,174.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County as at Salisbury University (88% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students is 11.8% larger than aid received by Salisbury University students ($10,203 vs. $9,124).

UMBC vs. Salisbury Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1330) is 80 points higher than at Salisbury (1250).
  • Incoming UMBC students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 24 at Salisbury).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; Salisbury University 1180/1320.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Salisbury University 20/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Salisbury - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; Salisbury Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Salisbury (3.73).
  • Salisbury has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than UMBC (72.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 18.4% at Salisbury.

UMBC vs. Salisbury Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and Salisbury? 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).

  • Salisbury University's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than Salisbury graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $52,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Salisbury University graduates have a $1,044 lower median loan debt than UMBC graduates ($20,153 vs. $21,197).
  • Among borrowers, Salisbury graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMBC graduates ($208 vs. $219).
  • More Salisbury graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (68% 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.