The University of Maryland (UMD), in College Park, Maryland, is a large public research university with around 41,000 students. It has strengths in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Public Policy, and Life Sciences. Admissions are moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of around 45%. The six-year graduation rate is close to 85%, and UMD graduates receive average starting salaries of USD $60,000–65,000 (INR 50–54 lakhs) per annum.
Northeastern University, situated in Boston, Massachusetts, is a private research university with around 22,000 students. It is especially famous for its co-op program, experiential learning, and solid programs in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Health Sciences, and International Affairs. Admissions are quite selective, with an acceptance rate of nearly 6%. The graduation rate at Northeastern is around 89%, and alumni receive average starting salaries of USD $70,000–75,000 (INR 58–62 lakhs) per annum.
| University of Maryland | Northeastern University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 5.9 Out of 10 | - |
| ranking (overall) | # 116 Times Higher Education 2026 # 207 QS World University 2026 # 92 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 201 Times Higher Education 2026 # 384 QS World University 2026 # 201 Times Higher Education 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 18 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 51 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 201 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 | # 34 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 389 for Medicine by QS World University 2024 # 68 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -81 PG Programs -88 Doctorate Programs -3 | UG Programs -90 PG Programs -92 |
| Acceptance Rate | 45.0 % | 5.6 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-7 PTE-68 TOEFL-96 | Duolingo-105 IELTS-6.5 PTE-53 TOEFL-79 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 36891 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 19500 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 17384 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 19700 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 48000 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 21000 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | University of Maryland, College Park is one of the top public universities in College Park, United States. It is ranked #=164 in QS World University Rankings Average Salaries Are Listed Below:
| Graduate employability rankings: #201-250
Some of the top recruiters are Amazon, iRobot, Morgan Stanley, EY, Bose, Blackstone group, Wellington Management etc |
| application requirements | 2 LORs, activities and awards list along with resume are also required for UG students as well, submit essay prompts, auditions for some programs like music, etc. | LOR- 2 or 3 letters of recommendation, SOP- yes, GPA- 3.5 (89% or more). |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.8/10 Read 24 reviews | 7.5/10 Read 51 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 52 for Business by US News 2025 # 87 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 125 for Business by QS World University 2025 | # 201 for Business by QS World University 2026 # 68 for Business by US News 2025 # 176 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| exam scores | GMAT - 640/800GRE - 320/340IELTS - 7/9PTE - 68/90TOEFL - 96/120 | Duolingo - 105/160IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 53/90TOEFL - 79/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -58239 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Oct 1, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Nov 1, 2025 (Round 2 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Dec 15, 2025 (Round 3 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Mar 13, 2026 (Final Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) | Nov 1, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Jan 1, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) May 1, 2026 (Final Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of Maryland | Northeastern University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1856 | 1898 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 16:1 |
| Male:Female | 51% Male, 0% Female | 44% Male, 0% Female |
| Location Facts | The suburban college is located in a designated area “college park” Maryland. The other campus is located in Baltimore. There is an urban forest located on-campus. The campus lies near to the transit center which makes it accessible. | The campus is located near to Museum of Fine Arts and Symphony Hall. It is situated in the heart of Boston and is filled with greenery. Northeastern University lies in the neighborhood of Huntington Avenue. |
| Library | Overall 4 million titles in collection, comprising- print books collection (2,016,845); e-books (6,305,045); ejournals (501,554); print journals (60,900); streaming media titles (308,256), films & videos (35,089); audio files (46,796). The total collection with other libraries is over 100,000. | More than 50,000 printed books, 861,676 ebooks, 100,887 licenced e-journals, and 116,739 streaming audio and visual titles.The professional research available is accessible to public (open). |
| Campus Life | Over 800 student clubs and organizations offering you an option to indulge in arts, music, theatre, and more. The university has two main dining halls for you to enjoy a hearty meal. The college also has intramural & sports clubs and division I teams. You can indulge in fraternities, sororities, community services, and civic engagement. | 32 intramural sports, 18 varsity sports, and 43 club sports. Additionally, campus offers Fall Fest, Afro Flow Yoga workshop, Field hockey, volleyball, soccer games, Night at the student center, and First pages. |
| Hostel | - | #Housing Allowance - $16200 |
| Famous Alumni | Carl Bernstein (journalist), Larry David (comedian), Sergey Brin (computer engineer & Co-founder Google), Kevin Plank (businessman), Carly Fiorina (businesswoman), Boomer Esiason (football quarterback), David Simon (author), Steny Hoyer (US representative), Judith Resnik (engineer), Len Bias (basketball player), etc. | Shawn Fanning (Computer programmer), Wendy Williams (TV host), Reggie Lewis (basketball player), Jane Curtin (actress), James Franklin Jeffrey (American Diplomat), Jeff Clarke (Executive Chairman of FTD), Albert Sacco (Dean Whitacre College of Engineering), Yale Patt (professor), Mo Cowan (former US Senator). |
| City Life | College Park in Prince George’s County is located on the Northeast border of Washington. It is home to National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, US National Archives, and National Archives. It shares its neighborhood with Lakeland, Hollywood, Calvert Hills, and Cherry Hills. There are three museums to explore in the city and various historic sites. | With a huge student community, the population diversity is vast and lies within the same braoder age group. The city offers a great nightlif with gastropubs, live music, and cocktail bars. Boston’s cosmopolitan excitement is bus-ride away. Average salaries offered within the state are up to 97,5000 USD |
| Weather |
University of Maryland vs Northeastern University
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
The University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) is ranked approximately 207 in QS 2026 and 112 in THE 2026, with strengths in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Life Sciences, and Public Policy. Northeastern University (NU) is ranked approximately 384 in QS 2026 and 201-250 in THE 2026, with strengths in Engineering, Business, Computer Science, Health Sciences, and Cooperative Education Programs, based on its experiential learning focus and industry integration.
General Information
UMD, established in 1856, is a huge public research university located in College Park, Maryland, with ~41,000 students, providing a broad selection of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs. NU, established in 1898, is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts, with ~22,000 students, where its co-op program mixes paid work experience with coursework and close partnerships with Boston's industries.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
UMD is moderately selective in acceptance rate (45%), with selective entrance to Engineering, Computer Science, and Business. NU is more selective (6%), especially for majors in Engineering, Business, and Health Sciences, with an eye to academic achievement and professional preparation.
Research Impact & Facilities
UMD is a Carnegie R1 research institution, strongly active in STEM, cybersecurity, public policy, and business research, with top-notch facilities and partnerships with NASA, NIH, and federal agencies. NU is also active in research, especially applied sciences, health, engineering, and business, using its co-op program and Boston innovation ecosystem to meld research with real-world experience.
Cost & Financial Aid
UMD, being a public school, costs ~$12,500 for in-state and ~$38,000 for out-of-state students, with merit and need-based aid. NU, being a private institution, costs approximately $60,000 per year but includes significant merit-based, need-based, and co-op opportunity offsets, which bring net costs down for the students.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
UMD graduates perform well in STEM, business, policy, and research, with advantages of proximity to Washington D.C. and robust federal and corporate networks. NU graduates gain the advantages of co-op placement, with real-world experience with the likes of Google, Microsoft, and Boston-area health-care and technology companies, resulting in robust employment rates nationally and internationally.
