Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
UCLA UCSD UMBC UCSB UC Davis TU Binghamton University UC Riverside Wisconsin UCSC Virginia Tech UC Berkeley| University of California Irvine | University of Maryland College Park | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
UCI | Maryland | ||
| Location | Irvine, CA | College Park, MD | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 36,582 | 40,813 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #93 | #91 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uci.edu | umd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UCI | Maryland | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,834 | $9,889 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $42,611 | $38,690 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,423 | $15,416 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,647 | $15,833 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $21,533 | $12,142 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 65% | 52% |
Admission |
UCI | Maryland | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 121,101 | 59,377 | ||
| Admitted | 30,962 | 26,625 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 25.6% | 44.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.9% | 23.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.75 | 3.84 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/33 | 32/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1230/1430 | 1370/1520 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2025 |
Academics |
UCI | Maryland | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
UCI | Maryland | ||
| Graduation Rate | 85% | 82% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $61,800 | $68,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 80% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,000 | $19,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $175 | $201 |
Diversity |
UCI | Maryland | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 13% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 12% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 15% | 52% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 13% | ||
| % Hispanic | 25% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 16% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
UCI | Maryland | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 69% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 29% | ||
Campus |
UCI | Maryland | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Maryland College Park is larger than than UCI based on total student enrollment (40,813 students vs. 36,582 students)
UCI vs. Maryland Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UCI or Maryland?
- University of California Irvine is 19.7% more expensive to attend than Maryland for in-state tuition ($11,834.00 vs. $9,889.00)
- Out of state tuition is 10.1% higher at UCI than University of Maryland College Park ($42,611.00 vs. $38,690.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Irvine than Maryland ($14,647 vs. $15,833)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland College Park are 19.5% lower than costs at University of California Irvine ($15,416 vs. $18,423)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of California Irvine than University of Maryland College Park (65% vs. 52%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Irvine students is 77.3% larger than aid received University of Maryland College Park ($21,533 vs. $12,142)
UCI vs. Maryland Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UCI or Maryland? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Maryland or UCI .
- The average SAT score at University of Maryland College Park (1315) is 140 points higher than at UCI (1175)
- Accepted freshman Maryland students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at UCI (3.75)
- Maryland has a higher acceptance rate (44.8%) than UCI (25.6%)
UCI vs. Maryland Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UCI or Maryland? 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 Maryland and UCI.
- The graduation rate at UCI is higher than University of Maryland College Park (85% vs. 82%)
- Graduates from University of Maryland College Park earn on average $6,500 more per year than UCI graduates after ten years. ($68,300 vs. $61,800)
- University of California Irvine students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Maryland graduates. ($17,000 vs. $19,500)
- UCI graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Maryland graduates. ($175 vs. $201)
- More Maryland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCI students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/