University of Central Florida
ORLANDO, FL
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Central Florida vs Maryland (UMBC) - US university comparison

University of Central Florida
CENTRAL FLORIDA
Orlando, FL
World rank · ARWU#401-500
Acceptance44.71%
Median SAT1260
Graduation rate78%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$58K
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
MARYLAND (UMBC)
Baltimore, Maryland
World rank · ARWU#601-700
Acceptance72.43%
Median SAT1323
Graduation rate70%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$70K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Central Florida University of Maryland, Baltimore County
#401-500 World rank · ARWU #601-700
- Rank · THE -
44.71% Acceptance rate 72.43%
1260 Median SAT 1323
78% Graduation rate 70%
69,338 Enrollment 13,906

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

44.71% Acceptance rate 72.43%
33.5% Yield rate 21.6%
1260 Median SAT 1323
4.16 Avg. GPA 4.13
55,135 Number of applications 14,325
3.3% Int'l students 4.8%
$58K Median earnings · 10 yrs $70K
$39K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $45K
$86K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $101K
78% Graduation rate 70%
92.3% Retention rate 85%
$18,190 Median debt $19,500
$24,076 Tuition · year $32,735
$11,814 Avg. aid package $14,712
65% % of need met 47%
$20,529 Avg. graduate debt $22,450
$30 Application fee $75
$928 Avg. int'l aid $13,080
At a glance
Central Florida leads in 9 of 12 measured metrics
Acceptance44.71% vs 72.43%
Yield33.5% vs 21.6%
% of need65% vs 47%

The verdict, from the data

The lower acceptance rate belongs to Central Florida: 44.7% against 72.4% (Maryland (UMBC)).

For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Maryland (UMBC) awards international students $13,080 on average, Central Florida awards $928.

The cheaper tuition belongs to Central Florida: $24,076 against $32,735, or $8,659 less a year.

The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Maryland (UMBC): $70K against $58K.

The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.

Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.

EXPERT TAKE

Central Florida is the more selective of the two (44.71% vs 72.43% acceptance). Central Florida ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#401-500 vs #601-700). Maryland (UMBC) graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($70K vs $58K). Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $32,735 per year).

Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.

Choose Central Florida for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.

Choose Maryland (UMBC) for: higher graduate earnings, a larger aid package.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Central Florida is more selective (44.71% vs 72.43% acceptance); Maryland (UMBC) has a higher median SAT (1323 vs 1260).

Graduate outcomes

Maryland (UMBC) graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($70K vs $58K); Central Florida has a higher 6-year graduation rate (78% vs 70%).

Cost and aid

Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $32,735); Maryland (UMBC) offers a larger average aid package ($14,712 vs $11,814).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kCentral FloridaMaryland (UMBC) TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Central Florida and Maryland (UMBC) highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Central Florida Maryland (UMBC)
World rank · ARWU#401-500#601-700
Rank · THE--
Acceptance rate44.71%72.43%
Yield rate33.5%21.6%
Median SAT12601323
Avg. GPA4.164.13
Number of applications55,13514,325
International students3.3%4.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$58K$70K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$39K$45K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$86K$101K
Graduation rate78%70%
Retention rate92.3%85%
Median debt$18,190$19,500
Tuition · year$24,076$32,735
Avg. aid package$11,814$14,712
% of need met65%47%
Avg. graduate debt$20,529$22,450
Application fee$30$75
Enrollment69,33813,906

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Central Florida or Maryland (UMBC)?

It's harder to get into Central Florida. Central Florida accepts 44.71% of applicants, while Maryland (UMBC) accepts 72.43%.

Do Central Florida or Maryland (UMBC) graduates earn more?

Maryland (UMBC) graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $70K vs $58K.

How much is tuition at Central Florida vs Maryland (UMBC)?

Sticker-price tuition is $24,076 per year at Central Florida and $32,735 per year at Maryland (UMBC).

What SAT score do you need for Central Florida or Maryland (UMBC)?

The median admitted SAT score is 1260 at Central Florida and 1323 at Maryland (UMBC); aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Central Florida or Maryland (UMBC)?

Central Florida ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #401-500 for Central Florida vs #601-700 for Maryland (UMBC).

Which university offers more financial aid - Central Florida or Maryland (UMBC)?

The average aid package is $11,814 at Central Florida and $14,712 at Maryland (UMBC).

Compare Central Florida with
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Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).
All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) - admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "-" = not yet in canonical.