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

Maryland (UMBC) vs Central Florida - US university comparison

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
University of Central Florida
CENTRAL FLORIDA
Orlando, FL
World rank · ARWU#401-500
Acceptance44.71%
Median SAT1260
Graduation rate78%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$58K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

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

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

72.43% Acceptance rate 44.71%
21.6% Yield rate 33.5%
1323 Median SAT 1260
4.13 Avg. GPA 4.16
14,325 Number of applications 55,135
4.8% Int'l students 3.3%
$70K Median earnings · 10 yrs $58K
$45K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $39K
$101K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $86K
70% Graduation rate 78%
85% Retention rate 92.3%
$19,500 Median debt $18,190
$32,735 Tuition · year $24,076
$14,712 Avg. aid package $11,814
47% % of need met 65%
$22,450 Avg. graduate debt $20,529
$75 Application fee $30
$13,080 Avg. int'l aid $928
At a glance
Central Florida leads in 9 of 12 measured metrics
Acceptance72.43% vs 44.71%
Yield21.6% vs 33.5%
% of need47% vs 65%

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 (#601-700 vs #401-500). 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 Maryland (UMBC) for: higher graduate earnings, a larger aid package.

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

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$83kMaryland (UMBC)Central Florida TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Maryland (UMBC) and Central Florida highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Maryland (UMBC) Central Florida
World rank · ARWU#601-700#401-500
Rank · THE--
Acceptance rate72.43%44.71%
Yield rate21.6%33.5%
Median SAT13231260
Avg. GPA4.134.16
Number of applications14,32555,135
International students4.8%3.3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$70K$58K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$45K$39K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$101K$86K
Graduation rate70%78%
Retention rate85%92.3%
Median debt$19,500$18,190
Tuition · year$32,735$24,076
Avg. aid package$14,712$11,814
% of need met47%65%
Avg. graduate debt$22,450$20,529
Application fee$75$30
Enrollment13,90669,338

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Compare Maryland (UMBC) with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts Institute of Technology Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns Hopkins Washington University Northwestern
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.