UMBC vs. VWC

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Virginia Wesleyan 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
Virginia Wesleyan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • VWC Virginia Beach, VA
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • VWC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • VWC 1,853
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • VWC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • VWC #684
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • VWC United Methodist
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • VWC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • VWC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • VWC $37,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • VWC $37,500
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • VWC $11,930
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • VWC $21,267
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • VWC $29,923
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • VWC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • VWC 3,808
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • VWC 2,775
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • VWC 72.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • VWC 11.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • VWC 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • VWC 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • VWC 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • VWC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • VWC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • VWC Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • VWC 28/29
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • VWC 1140/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • VWC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • VWC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • VWC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • VWC
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • VWC 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • VWC $41,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • VWC 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • VWC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • VWC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • VWC 47%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • VWC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • VWC High
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • VWC No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • VWC 54%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • VWC 24%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • VWC 8%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • VWC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • VWC 5%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • VWC 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • VWC 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • VWC 25%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than VWC based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 1,853 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Wesleyan University is in Virginia Beach, VA (Large City setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Virginia Wesleyan University 15:1.

UMBC vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or VWC? 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 VWC ($18,770 vs. $21,267).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Wesleyan University are 21.2% lower than at University of Maryland Baltimore County ($11,930 vs. $15,146).
  • Virginia Wesleyan University is 182.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $24,244 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.9% higher at VWC than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $6,225 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Wesleyan University than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (100% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Wesleyan University students is 193.3% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($29,923 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. VWC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1330) is 80 points higher than at VWC (1250).
  • Incoming UMBC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 28) as students at VWC (28).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; Virginia Wesleyan University 1140/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Virginia Wesleyan University 28/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; VWC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at VWC (3.39).
  • VWC has a higher acceptance rate (72.9%) than UMBC (72.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 11.9% at VWC.

UMBC vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and VWC? 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 Maryland Baltimore County's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Virginia Wesleyan University's (48%).
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of about $17,800 more per year than VWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $41,700), 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 VWC graduates ($21,197 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UMBC graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VWC graduates ($219 vs. $279).
  • More UMBC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VWC students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 57%)

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.