Maryland (UMBC) vs Kansas - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Maryland (UMBC): 72.4% against 93.5% (Kansas).
Ten years on, graduates of Maryland (UMBC) earn noticeably more: $70K against $62K.
Candidates with higher SAT scores go to Maryland (UMBC): a midpoint of 1323 against 1190, a difference of 133 points.
Neither is international in practice: the share of foreign students does not exceed 4.8%.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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
Maryland (UMBC) is the more selective of the two (72.43% vs 93.48% acceptance). Kansas ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#601-700 vs #301-400). Maryland (UMBC) graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($70K vs $62K). Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 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 selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Kansas for: a higher world ranking, higher retention, lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Maryland (UMBC) is more selective (72.43% vs 93.48% acceptance); Maryland (UMBC) has a higher median SAT (1323 vs 1190).
Maryland (UMBC) graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($70K vs $62K); Maryland (UMBC) has a higher 6-year graduation rate (70% vs 68.8%).
Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 vs $32,735); Kansas offers a larger average aid package ($19,700 vs $14,712).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Maryland (UMBC) | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #601-700 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 72.43% | 93.48% |
| Yield rate | 21.6% | 25.5% |
| Median SAT | 1323 | 1190 |
| Avg. GPA | 4.13 | 3.68 |
| Number of applications | 14,325 | 22,363 |
| International students | 4.8% | 3.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $70K | $62K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $45K | $40K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $101K | $88K |
| Graduation rate | 70% | 68.8% |
| Retention rate | 85% | 86% |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $21,000 |
| Tuition · year | $32,735 | $30,432 |
| Avg. aid package | $14,712 | $19,700 |
| % of need met | 47% | 78.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,450 | $27,212 |
| Application fee | $75 | $40 |
| Enrollment | 13,906 | 29,792 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Maryland (UMBC) or Kansas?
It's harder to get into Maryland (UMBC). Maryland (UMBC) accepts 72.43% of applicants, while Kansas accepts 93.48%.
Do Maryland (UMBC) or Kansas graduates earn more?
Maryland (UMBC) graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $70K vs $62K.
How much is tuition at Maryland (UMBC) vs Kansas?
Sticker-price tuition is $32,735 per year at Maryland (UMBC) and $30,432 per year at Kansas.
What SAT score do you need for Maryland (UMBC) or Kansas?
The median admitted SAT score is 1323 at Maryland (UMBC) and 1190 at Kansas; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Maryland (UMBC) or Kansas?
Kansas ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #601-700 for Maryland (UMBC) vs #301-400 for Kansas.
Which university offers more financial aid - Maryland (UMBC) or Kansas?
The average aid package is $14,712 at Maryland (UMBC) and $19,700 at Kansas.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern