Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Maryland Salisbury Mason UD Penn State NJIT UB WCU Virginia Tech Frostburg State University WVU Rutgers| University of Maryland Baltimore County | Towson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
UMBC | TU | ||
| Location | Baltimore, MD | Towson, MD | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 14,148 | 19,527 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #263 | #375 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | umbc.edu | towson.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UMBC | TU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,238 | $7,382 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,594 | $24,402 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,204 | $15,644 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,704 | $15,064 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,956 | $11,565 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 87% | 62% |
Admission |
UMBC | TU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 13,150 | 18,948 | ||
| Admitted | 9,762 | 15,689 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.2% | 82.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.3% | 19.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.97 | 3.69 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 23/30 | 19/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1410 | 1050/1270 | ||
| 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 | Apr 1, 2026 |
Academics |
UMBC | TU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 14:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
UMBC | TU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 57% | 64% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,500 | $53,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 67% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,197 | $17,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $219 | $183 |
Diversity |
UMBC | TU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 14% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 12% | 12% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 44% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 17% | 18% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 3% |
Students |
UMBC | TU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 85% | 90% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 6% | 9% | ||
Campus |
UMBC | TU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Towson University is larger than than UMBC based on total student enrollment (19,527 students vs. 14,148 students)
UMBC vs. TU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UMBC or TU?
- University of Maryland Baltimore County is 25.1% more expensive to attend than TU for in-state tuition ($9,238.00 vs. $7,382.00)
- Out of state tuition is 9% higher at UMBC than Towson University ($26,594.00 vs. $24,402.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Towson University than UMBC ($15,064 vs. $17,704)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 10.1% lower than costs at Towson University ($14,204 vs. $15,644)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than Towson University (87% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Towson University students is 16.2% larger than aid received University of Maryland Baltimore County ($11,565 vs. $9,956)
UMBC vs. TU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UMBC or TU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between TU or UMBC .
- The average SAT score at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1209) is 128 points higher than at TU (1081)
- Incoming UMBC students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at TU (23)
- Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at TU (3.69)
- TU has a higher acceptance rate (82.8%) than UMBC (74.2%)
UMBC vs. TU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UMBC or TU? 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 TU and UMBC.
- The graduation rate at TU is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County (64% vs. 57%)
- Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn on average $6,000 more per year than TU graduates after ten years. ($59,500 vs. $53,500)
- Towson University students graduate with a $3,447 lower median federal student loan debt than UMBC graduates. ($17,750 vs. $21,197)
- TU graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than UMBC graduates. ($183 vs. $219)
- More TU 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/