University of Maryland, Baltimore County
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Maryland (UMBC) vs North Carolina - 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NORTH CAROLINA
Chapel Hill, NC
World rank · ARWU#35
Acceptance15.34%
Median SAT1470
Graduation rate91.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Maryland, Baltimore County University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
#601-700 World rank · ARWU #35
- Rank · THE #70
72.43% Acceptance rate 15.34%
1323 Median SAT 1470
70% Graduation rate 91.2%
13,906 Enrollment 32,680

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

72.43% Acceptance rate 15.34%
21.6% Yield rate 45.5%
1323 Median SAT 1470
4.13 Avg. GPA 4.49
14,325 Number of applications 66,535
4.8% Int'l students 6.4%
$70K Median earnings · 10 yrs $72K
$45K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $48K
$101K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $112K
70% Graduation rate 91.2%
85% Retention rate 96.6%
$19,500 Median debt $14,000
$32,735 Tuition · year $45,228
$14,712 Avg. aid package $20,705
47% % of need met 100%
$22,450 Avg. graduate debt $20,382
$75 Application fee $85
$13,080 Avg. int'l aid -
At a glance
North Carolina leads in 11 of 12 measured metrics
Acceptance72.43% vs 15.34%
% of need47% vs 100%
Yield21.6% vs 45.5%

The verdict, from the data

Maryland (UMBC) accepts most of the applications it receives (72.4%), while North Carolina turns away the overwhelming majority (15.3%).

North Carolina reports no financial aid for international students, while Maryland (UMBC) awards them $13,080 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.

On paper the cheaper option is Maryland (UMBC): $32,735 against $45,228, which is $12,493 less a year.

147 points separate the SAT profiles: 1470 (North Carolina) against 1323.

None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.

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

North Carolina is the more selective of the two (15.34% vs 72.43% acceptance). North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#601-700 vs #35). North Carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $70K). Maryland (UMBC) has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,735 vs $45,228 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: lower tuition.

Choose North Carolina for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

North Carolina is more selective (15.34% vs 72.43% acceptance); North Carolina has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1323).

Graduate outcomes

North Carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $70K); North Carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 70%).

Cost and aid

Maryland (UMBC) has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,735 vs $45,228); North Carolina offers a larger average aid package ($20,705 vs $14,712).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Maryland (UMBC) North Carolina
World rank · ARWU#601-700#35
Rank · THE-#70
Acceptance rate72.43%15.34%
Yield rate21.6%45.5%
Median SAT13231470
Avg. GPA4.134.49
Number of applications14,32566,535
International students4.8%6.4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$70K$72K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$45K$48K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$101K$112K
Graduation rate70%91.2%
Retention rate85%96.6%
Median debt$19,500$14,000
Tuition · year$32,735$45,228
Avg. aid package$14,712$20,705
% of need met47%100%
Avg. graduate debt$22,450$20,382
Application fee$75$85
Enrollment13,90632,680

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Maryland (UMBC) or North Carolina?

It's harder to get into North Carolina. Maryland (UMBC) accepts 72.43% of applicants, while North Carolina accepts 15.34%.

Do Maryland (UMBC) or North Carolina graduates earn more?

North Carolina graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $72K vs $70K.

How much is tuition at Maryland (UMBC) vs North Carolina?

Sticker-price tuition is $32,735 per year at Maryland (UMBC) and $45,228 per year at North Carolina.

What SAT score do you need for Maryland (UMBC) or North Carolina?

The median admitted SAT score is 1323 at Maryland (UMBC) and 1470 at North Carolina; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Maryland (UMBC) or North Carolina?

North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #601-700 for Maryland (UMBC) vs #35 for North Carolina.

Which university offers more financial aid - Maryland (UMBC) or North Carolina?

The average aid package is $14,712 at Maryland (UMBC) and $20,705 at North Carolina.

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.