UMBC vs. VWC

Should I go to University of Maryland Baltimore County or Virginia Wesleyan College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UMBC or VWC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of Maryland Baltimore County vs. Virginia Wesleyan College comparison
University of Maryland Baltimore County Virginia Wesleyan College College 3 College 4
University of Maryland Baltimore County Virginia Wesleyan College
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Overview

 UMBC VWC
Location Baltimore, MD Norfolk, VA
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 14,148 1,711
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #263 #679
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umbc.edu vwc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UMBC VWC
Tuition (In State) $9,238 $36,010
Tuition (Out of State) $26,594 $36,010
Room & Board $14,204 $11,513
Avg Net Price $17,704 $21,862
Avg Grant Aid $9,956 $29,360
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 100%

Admission

 UMBC VWC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,150 2,651
Admitted 9,762 1,890
Acceptance Rate 74.2% 71.3%
Enrolled % 20.3% 19.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.97 3.39
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 23/30 28/29
SAT Range 1220/1410 1140/1350
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

Academics

 UMBC VWC
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 UMBC VWC
% Men 14% 2%
% Women 12% 3%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 44% 54%
% Black 17% 24%
% Hispanic 6% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 6%

Students

 UMBC VWC
% In-State 85% 73%
% Out-of-State 6% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than than VWC based on total student enrollment (14,148 students vs. 1,711 students)

UMBC vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or VWC?

  • Virginia Wesleyan College is 289.8% more expensive to attend than UMBC for in-state tuition ($36,010.00 vs. $9,238.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 35.4% higher at VWC than University of Maryland Baltimore County ($36,010.00 vs. $26,594.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland Baltimore County than VWC ($17,704 vs. $21,862)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Wesleyan College are 23.4% lower than costs at University of Maryland Baltimore County ($11,513 vs. $14,204)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia Wesleyan College than University of Maryland Baltimore County (100% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Wesleyan College students is 194.9% larger than aid received University of Maryland Baltimore County ($29,360 vs. $9,956)

UMBC vs. VWC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMBC or VWC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VWC or UMBC .

  • The average SAT score at University of Maryland Baltimore County (1209) is 227 points higher than at VWC (982)
  • Incoming UMBC students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at VWC (22)
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at VWC (3.39)
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than VWC (71.3%)

UMBC vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UMBC or VWC? 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 VWC and UMBC.

  • The graduation rate at UMBC is higher than Virginia Wesleyan College (57% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn on average $17,800 more per year than VWC graduates after ten years. ($59,500 vs. $41,700)
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County students graduate with a $5,803 lower median federal student loan debt than VWC graduates. ($21,197 vs. $27,000)
  • UMBC graduates are paying $60 less per month on federal student loans 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/