UMBC vs. Williams

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Williams 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
Williams College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • Williams Williamstown, MA
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • Williams Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • Williams 2,164
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • Williams Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • Williams #14
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • Williams -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • Williams Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • Williams

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • Williams $68,560
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • Williams $68,560
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • Williams $17,260
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • Williams $15,894
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • Williams $68,966
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • Williams 54%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • Williams 15,411
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • Williams 1,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • Williams 8.3%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • Williams 43%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • Williams 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • Williams 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • Williams 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • Williams A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • Williams Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • Williams Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • Williams 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • Williams 1490/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • Williams Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • Williams Jan 10, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • Williams 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Williams
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • Williams 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • Williams $73,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • Williams 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • Williams $14,582
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • Williams $150

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • Williams 47%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • Williams 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • Williams High
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • Williams No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • Williams 54%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • Williams 12%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • Williams 13%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • Williams 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • Williams 6%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • Williams 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • Williams 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • Williams 11%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • Williams 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than Williams based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 2,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); Williams College is in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Williams College 6:1.

UMBC vs. Williams Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Williams? 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 Williams College than UMBC ($15,894 vs. $18,770).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 12.2% lower than at Williams College ($15,146 vs. $17,260).
  • Williams College is 417.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $55,304 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 119.2% higher at Williams than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $37,285 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at Williams College (88% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 575.9% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($68,966 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. Williams Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 200 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
  • Incoming Williams 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; Williams College 1490/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Williams College 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Williams - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; Williams Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Williams (3.94).
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than Williams (8.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 43% at Williams.

UMBC vs. Williams Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and Williams? 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).

  • Williams College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from Williams College earn a median of about $14,100 more per year than UMBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,600 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $6,615 lower median loan debt than UMBC graduates ($14,582 vs. $21,197).
  • Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $69 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMBC graduates ($150 vs. $219).
  • More Williams graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.