UCLA vs. Maryland

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles 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.

University of California Los Angeles
University of Maryland College Park

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • Maryland College Park, MD
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • Maryland Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • Maryland 41,725
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • Maryland Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • Maryland #85
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • Maryland -
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • Maryland Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • Maryland

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • Maryland $11,809
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • Maryland $41,186
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • Maryland $15,958
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • Maryland $16,581
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • Maryland $12,867
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • Maryland 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • Maryland 60,056
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • Maryland 26,902
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • Maryland 44.8%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • Maryland 21.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • Maryland 1470
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • Maryland 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • Maryland 3.84
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • Maryland A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • Maryland Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • Maryland Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • Maryland 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • Maryland 1400/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • Maryland Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • Maryland

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • Maryland 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • Maryland
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • Maryland 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • Maryland $68,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • Maryland 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • Maryland $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • Maryland $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • Maryland 51%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • Maryland 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • Maryland High
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • Maryland No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • Maryland 52%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • Maryland 16%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • Maryland 13%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • Maryland 9%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • Maryland 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • Maryland 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • Maryland 4%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • Maryland 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • Maryland 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • Maryland 70%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • Maryland 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA 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 California Los Angeles is larger than Maryland based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 41,725 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); University of Maryland College Park is in College Park, MD (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles 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: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; University of Maryland College Park 17:1.

UCLA vs. Maryland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA or Maryland? 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 California Los Angeles than Maryland ($14,512 vs. $16,581).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland College Park are 13.1% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($15,958 vs. $18,369).
  • University of California Los Angeles is 28.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Maryland (about $3,394 more per year; $15,203.00 vs. $11,809.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20% higher at UCLA than at University of Maryland College Park (about $8,217 more per year; $49,403.00 vs. $41,186.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland College Park than at University of California Los Angeles (55% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 99.2% larger than aid received by University of Maryland College Park students ($25,627 vs. $12,867).

UCLA vs. Maryland Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA 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 UCLA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland College Park (1470) is 50 points higher than at UCLA (1420).
  • Incoming Maryland students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at UCLA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; University of Maryland College Park 1400/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; University of Maryland College Park 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); Maryland - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Maryland (3.84).
  • Maryland has a higher acceptance rate (44.8%) than UCLA (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 21.6% at Maryland.

UCLA vs. Maryland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA 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).

  • University of California Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than University of Maryland College Park's (82%).
  • Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than Maryland graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $68,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $3,200 lower median loan debt than Maryland graduates ($16,300 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Maryland graduates ($168 vs. $201).
  • More Maryland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCLA students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 78%)

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.