University of Maryland (UMD-College Park) is a public research university located in College Park, Maryland, in a large suburban environment near Washington, D.C. It's a large institution with around 30,353 undergraduates (Fall 2022) and overall enrollment ~ 40,792. Admissions are very competitive, and the acceptance rate for recent freshman classes is approximately 34.3%. Computer Science, Engineering, Business, Social Sciences, and Biology are popular majors. The six-year graduation rate is roughly 88-89%, and UMD graduates have a median salary five years after graduation of ~$80,600; the median earnings ten years after entering are lower in the public data I've found (in the mid-$60,000s) instead of your stated figure.
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is a public research university located in Catonsville, Maryland, within a suburban setting. It is a medium-sized school with approximately 10,490 undergraduate students and overall student enrollment ~ 14,148. Admissions are fairly competitive with an acceptance rate of approximately 74.2%. Computer Science, Biology, Psychology, Engineering, and Social Sciences are popular majors. The six-year graduation rate is ~ 70% for full-time first-time freshmen. UMBC graduates median salary 5 years post-graduation ~ $71,700.
| University of Maryland | University of Maryland Baltimore County | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 5.9 Out of 10 | 4.1 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 116 Times Higher Education 2026 # 207 QS World University 2026 # 92 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 43 The Guardian 2026 # 601 Times Higher Education 2026 # 801 QS World University 2026 |
| 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 | # 101 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 201 for Medicine by Academy Ranking of World Universities 2022 # 8 for Law by The Guardian 2026 |
| Programs | UG Programs -81 PG Programs -88 Doctorate Programs -3 | UG Programs -41 PG Programs -25 Doctorate Programs -3 |
| Acceptance Rate | 45.0 % | 74.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-7 PTE-68 TOEFL-96 | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1140 TOEFL-80 |
| 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 23983 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 33465 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 29430 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:
| $70,000-$74,999 median starting salary bachelor’s degree full-time. Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: Bachelor of Arts $73,000 Masters in Science $72,000 Other Degree $58,000 |
| 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. | Submit official transcripts of all previous education Submit English language proficiency test scores Complete program specific requirements |
| Campuses and B-Schools | Robert H. Smith School of Business | NA |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.8/10 Read 24 reviews | 7.5/10 Read 8 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 16 for Computer Science by US News 2025 # 56 for Computer Science by Times Higher Education 2025 # 74 for Computer Science by QS World University 2025 | # 35 for Computer Science by The Guardian 2026 # 80 for Computer Science by US News 2025 # 301 for Computer Science by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| exam scores | IELTS - 7/9PTE - 68/90TOEFL - 96/120 | Duolingo - 115/160IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 61/90TOEFL - 90/120 |
| application dates | Dec 5, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) | Jan 7, 2026 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of Maryland | University of Maryland Baltimore County |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1856 | 1966 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 18:1 |
| Male:Female | 51% Male, 0% Female | 55% Male, 45% 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. | UMBC’s main campus is located between Baltimore, MD and Washington, D.C. There is another branch of the campus operating at USM regional center in Rockville, MD |
| 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. | The University of Maryland, Baltimore’s libraries offer information resources and services to help students, faculty, and staff excel. With a wealth of databases, tutorials, study spaces, journals, and outstanding book collections, the Health Sciences and Human Services Library and the Thurgood Marshall Law Library are well worth your visit. |
| 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. | University provides various facilities to the students and helps them in staying engaged on the campus. There are various student organizations available for the students to join in different fields like arts, professional development, culture, sports etc. University also provides guidance for housing and dining facilties are also available for the students. |
| Hostel | - | #On campus - $11836 #Off campus (not with family) - $13960 #Off campus (with family) - $3634 |
| 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. | Duff Goldman (pastry chef, television personality) Dan Patrick (radio talk show host) Tony Harris (journalist) Matthew VanDyke (documentary flimmaker) |
| 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. | Also known as “Charm City,” Baltimore is a big city with a small-town vibe is packed with exciting restaurants, craft breweries, museums, and — if you’re here long enough — familiar faces. It’s a popular home base for D.C. commuters, young professionals, and folks looking for big-city amenities that don’t cost them the feeling of community. Baltimore is just off of the Chesapeake Bay, located about an hour’s drive north of Washington, D.C., and two hours south of Philadelphia. Baltimore has a lower cost of living than the U.S. national average and Maryland overall. So whether you’re relocating within the state or making it a long-distance move, you’ll likely get more bang for each buck. Just keep in mind, however, that while you might be spending less, you’ll also likely be making less. According to Nerdwallet, the median household salary in Baltimore is $40,100, versus the national average of $52,762. |
| Weather |
University of Maryland vs University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
UMD (College Park) is a top public research university in the U.S., ranked highly in STEM, engineering, computer science, and business. UMBC is also well-regarded, especially for undergraduate STEM, social mobility, and innovation, but its global & national rankings are not as high as UMD's. UMD excels in research scope, grant funds available, faculty, graduate programs, and reputation. UMBC is particularly strong in developing underrepresented students, in undergraduate research experiences, and in minority achievement in STEM.
General Information
UMD, established in 1856, is Maryland's flagship campus of big size: more than 40,000 students total, close to 30,400 undergraduates, hundreds of undergraduate and graduate programs on its suburban 1,340-acre campus. UMBC, founded in 1966, is smaller (~14,148 total students, ~10,490 undergraduates) with a more compact suburban campus (approximately 500 acres), with high strengths in undergraduate education, research, and community. UMBC focuses on diversity, innovation, and student support, especially for first-generation and minority students.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
UMD's acceptance rate is considerably lower (? 34.3%) compared to UMBC's (~ 74.2%), so UMD is far more selective. Admitted UMD students will have high high-school GPAs, test scores (if submitted), etc. and other academic qualifications. Both institutions are test-optional in current cycles. UMBC's academic admissions statistics are lower overall than UMD's but still respectable; UMBC focuses on holistic review, student promise, research involvement, etc.
Research Facilities & Impact
Both UMD and UMBC are research universities. UMD possesses an extremely large research apparatus, extremely high funding for research, numerous graduate programs, numerous research centers and labs, excellence in engineering, computer science, public policy. UMBC is also good at research, particularly at the undergraduate level; excellent centers such as the Meyerhoff Scholars Program, good track record in STEM education, though on a smaller scale than UMD. UMD's laboratories, facilities, international collaborations, citation impact are much larger.
Cost & Financial Aid
UMBC is lower net price on average (after aid) compared to many peer research universities, particularly for in-state students. The undergraduate cost is lower, and high percentages of the students receive grants/aid. UMD is higher (particularly for out-of-staters), but grants and scholarships are high as well. UMD's published average graduate salary is ~$80,600 (five-year post-grad), which is high, reflecting high return on investment by students.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
UMD graduates have excellent graduation rates (~ 89%), high retention, and median five-year earnings of about US$80,600. UMBC graduates also have good outcomes: six-year graduation rate about 70%, median five-year earnings ~ US$71,700, good outcomes in STEM, good reputation for upward mobility and innovation. UMD's proximity to D.C., strong alumni network, and prestige provide its graduates with greater opportunities in federal government, research, tech, etc. UMBC provides strong outcomes particularly for those concentrating on STEM, early career research, etc.
