UMBC vs. Rutgers

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore, MD with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than UMBC based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 13,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

UMBC vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers ($18,770 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 3.6% lower than at Rutgers University New Brunswick ($15,146 vs. $15,714).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 35.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $4,673 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.7% higher at Rutgers than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $6,166 more per year; $37,441.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (88% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 64.1% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($16,742 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 80 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
  • Incoming Rutgers students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at UMBC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.67 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

UMBC vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC and Rutgers? 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).

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than UMBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland Baltimore County graduates have a $1,018 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($21,197 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, UMBC graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($219 vs. $229).
  • More Rutgers graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (68% 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.