UMBC vs. Vassar

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Vassar College? 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
Vassar College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • Vassar 2,462
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • Vassar #46
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • Vassar -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • Vassar

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • Vassar $18,240
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • Vassar $29,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • Vassar $57,443
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • Vassar 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • Vassar 12,447
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • Vassar 2,311
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • Vassar 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • Vassar 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • Vassar 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • Vassar A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • Vassar Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • Vassar Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • Vassar 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • Vassar Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • Vassar 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • Vassar 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • Vassar $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • Vassar 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • Vassar $15,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • Vassar $163

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • Vassar 38%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • Vassar 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • Vassar High
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • Vassar No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • Vassar 59%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • Vassar 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • Vassar 6%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • Vassar 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • Vassar 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • Vassar 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • Vassar 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); Vassar College is in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Vassar College 7:1.

UMBC vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Vassar? 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 Vassar ($18,770 vs. $29,981).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 17% lower than at Vassar College ($15,146 vs. $18,240).
  • Vassar College is 435.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $57,774 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 127.1% higher at Vassar than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $39,755 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at Vassar College (88% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 463% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($57,443 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 170 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
  • Incoming Vassar students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 28 at UMBC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; Vassar College 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Vassar College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Vassar - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Vassar (3.86).
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than Vassar (18.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

UMBC vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and Vassar? 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).

  • Vassar College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $5,417 lower median loan debt than UMBC graduates ($15,780 vs. $21,197).
  • Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMBC graduates ($163 vs. $219).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.