UMBC vs. Penn

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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • Penn Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • Penn Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • Penn 29,109
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • Penn Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • Penn #23
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • Penn -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • Penn Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • Penn

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • Penn $68,686
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • Penn $68,686
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • Penn $19,174
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • Penn $23,570
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • Penn $65,458
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • Penn 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • Penn 65,226
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • Penn 3,523
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • Penn 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • Penn 68%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • Penn 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • Penn 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • Penn 3.95
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • Penn A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • Penn Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • Penn Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • Penn 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • Penn 1510/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • Penn Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • Penn 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Penn
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • Penn 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • Penn $123,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • Penn 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • Penn $20,633
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • Penn $213

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • Penn 44%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • Penn 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • Penn Very High
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • Penn No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • Penn 45%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • Penn 19%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • Penn 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • Penn 10%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • Penn 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • Penn 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • Penn 4%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • Penn 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • Penn 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • Penn 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • Penn 70%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pennsylvania is larger than UMBC based on total student enrollment (29,109 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); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

UMBC vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Penn? 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 Penn ($18,770 vs. $23,570).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 21% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($15,146 vs. $19,174).
  • University of Pennsylvania is 418.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $55,430 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 119.6% higher at Penn than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $37,411 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at University of Pennsylvania (88% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 541.6% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($65,458 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. Penn Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 210 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
  • Incoming Penn students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 28 at UMBC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; University of Pennsylvania 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Penn - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Penn (3.95).
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than Penn (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 68% at Penn.

UMBC vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and Penn? 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).

  • University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $64,100 more per year than UMBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $564 lower median loan debt than UMBC graduates ($20,633 vs. $21,197).
  • Among borrowers, Penn graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMBC graduates ($213 vs. $219).
  • More Penn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.