UMBC vs. Syracuse

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Syracuse 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
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than UMBC based on total student enrollment (22,589 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); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

UMBC vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Syracuse? 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 Syracuse ($18,770 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 21.1% lower than at Syracuse University ($15,146 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 394.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $52,272 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 109.5% higher at Syracuse than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $34,253 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at Syracuse University (88% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 256.9% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($36,417 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Syracuse University (1360) is 30 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
  • Incoming Syracuse students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at UMBC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than Syracuse (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

UMBC vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and Syracuse? 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).

  • Syracuse University's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than UMBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,900 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland Baltimore County graduates have a $5,803 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($21,197 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UMBC graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($219 vs. $279).
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.