UMBC vs. Brown

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Brown University? 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
Brown University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Brown Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore, MD with Brown University in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Brown University 6:1.

UMBC vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Brown? 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 Maryland Baltimore County than Brown ($18,770 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 13.2% lower than at Brown University ($15,146 vs. $17,444).
  • Brown University is 438.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $58,156 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 128.3% higher at Brown than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $40,137 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at Brown University (88% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 501.7% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($61,392 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. Brown Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 220 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
  • Incoming Brown 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; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Brown - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Brown (3.94).
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 65.2% at Brown.

UMBC vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and Brown? 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).

  • Brown University's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $28,100 more per year than UMBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $6,197 lower median loan debt than UMBC graduates ($15,000 vs. $21,197).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMBC graduates ($155 vs. $219).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.