USAFA vs. Maryland

Deciding between United States Air Force Academy and University of Maryland College Park? 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.

United States Air Force Academy
University of Maryland College Park

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • USAFA USAF Academy, Colorado
  • Maryland College Park, MD
  • Setting
  • USAFA Large City
  • Maryland Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • USAFA 4,114
  • Maryland 41,725
  • Type
  • USAFA Public 4 Year
  • Maryland Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • USAFA
  • Maryland #85
  • Religious Affiliation
  • USAFA -
  • Maryland -
  • Status
  • USAFA Non-profit
  • Maryland Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • USAFA
  • Maryland

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • USAFA $0
  • Maryland $11,809
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • USAFA $0
  • Maryland $41,186
  • Room & Board
  • USAFA $0
  • Maryland $15,958
  • Average Net Price
  • USAFA -
  • Maryland $16,581
  • Average Grant Aid
  • USAFA $0
  • Maryland $12,867
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • USAFA 0%
  • Maryland 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • USAFA 10,187
  • Maryland 60,056
  • Admitted
  • USAFA 1,435
  • Maryland 26,902
  • Acceptance Rate
  • USAFA 14.1%
  • Maryland 44.8%
  • Enrolled
  • USAFA 78.5%
  • Maryland 21.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • USAFA 1340
  • Maryland 1470
  • Typical ACT score
  • USAFA 29
  • Maryland 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • USAFA 3.81
  • Maryland 3.84
  • Typical High School Grades
  • USAFA A-
  • Maryland A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • USAFA Very High
  • Maryland Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • USAFA Very High
  • Maryland Low
  • ACT Range
  • USAFA 26/33
  • Maryland 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • USAFA 1230/1440
  • Maryland 1400/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • USAFA Required
  • Maryland Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • USAFA Dec 31, 2026
  • Maryland

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • USAFA 7:1
  • Maryland 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • USAFA
    • Engineering (35%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • General Studies (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Maryland
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • USAFA -
  • Maryland 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • USAFA N/A
  • Maryland $68,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • USAFA -
  • Maryland 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • USAFA N/A
  • Maryland $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • USAFA N/A
  • Maryland $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • USAFA 70%
  • Maryland 51%
  • % Women
  • USAFA 30%
  • Maryland 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • USAFA -
  • Maryland High
  • HBCU
  • USAFA No
  • Maryland No
  • % White
  • USAFA 0%
  • Maryland 52%
  • % Asian
  • USAFA 0%
  • Maryland 16%
  • % Black
  • USAFA 0%
  • Maryland 13%
  • % Hispanic
  • USAFA 0%
  • Maryland 9%
  • % Native American
  • USAFA 0%
  • Maryland 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • USAFA 0%
  • Maryland 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • USAFA 0%
  • Maryland 4%
  • % International
  • USAFA 0%
  • Maryland 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • USAFA 0%
  • Maryland 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • USAFA 6%
  • Maryland 70%
  • % Out-of-State
  • USAFA 91%
  • Maryland 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare United States Air Force Academy in USAF Academy, Colorado with University of Maryland College Park in College Park, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Maryland College Park is larger than USAFA based on total student enrollment (41,725 students vs. 4,114 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • United States Air Force Academy is located in USAF Academy, Colorado (Large City setting); University of Maryland College Park is in College Park, MD (Large Suburban setting).
  • United States Air Force Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Maryland College Park is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: United States Air Force Academy 7:1; University of Maryland College Park 17:1.

USAFA vs. Maryland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USAFA or Maryland? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • In-state tuition differs between University of Maryland College Park and USAFA ($11,809.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between Maryland and United States Air Force Academy ($41,186.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland College Park than at United States Air Force Academy (55% vs. 0%).

USAFA vs. Maryland Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USAFA or Maryland? 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 Maryland and USAFA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland College Park (1470) is 130 points higher than at USAFA (1340).
  • Incoming Maryland students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 29 at USAFA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: United States Air Force Academy 1230/1440; University of Maryland College Park 1400/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: United States Air Force Academy 26/33; University of Maryland College Park 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USAFA - Required; Maryland - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: USAFA Dec 31, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman Maryland students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at USAFA (3.81).
  • Maryland has a higher acceptance rate (44.8%) than USAFA (14.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 78.5% at USAFA vs. 21.6% at Maryland.

USAFA vs. Maryland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USAFA and Maryland? 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).

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.