Maryland (UMBC) vs Northeastern - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Maryland (UMBC) accepts most of the applications it receives (72.4%), while Northeastern turns away the overwhelming majority (5.2%).
The share of international students differs sharply: 13.1% (Northeastern) against 4.8% (Maryland (UMBC)).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Northeastern awards international students $24,539 on average, Maryland (UMBC) awards $13,080.
The tuition gap is $36,554 a year: $32,735 (Maryland (UMBC)) against $69,289.
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
Northeastern is the more selective of the two (5.2% vs 72.43% acceptance). Northeastern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#601-700 vs #201-300). Northeastern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($93K vs $70K). Maryland (UMBC) has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,735 vs $69,289 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, lower graduate debt.
Choose Northeastern 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
Northeastern is more selective (5.2% vs 72.43% acceptance); Northeastern has a higher median SAT (1490 vs 1323).
Northeastern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($93K vs $70K); Northeastern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (90.5% vs 70%).
Maryland (UMBC) has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,735 vs $69,289); Northeastern offers a larger average aid package ($46,555 vs $14,712).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Maryland (UMBC) | Northeastern |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #601-700 | #201-300 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 72.43% | 5.2% |
| Yield rate | 21.6% | 53.8% |
| Median SAT | 1323 | 1490 |
| Avg. GPA | 4.13 | - |
| Number of applications | 14,325 | 98,425 |
| International students | 4.8% | 13.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $70K | $93K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $45K | $62K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $101K | $135K |
| Graduation rate | 70% | 90.5% |
| Retention rate | 85% | 96.9% |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $24,250 |
| Tuition · year | $32,735 | $69,289 |
| Avg. aid package | $14,712 | $46,555 |
| % of need met | 47% | 86.7% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,450 | $32,461 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 13,906 | 39,774 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Maryland (UMBC) or Northeastern?
It's harder to get into Northeastern. Maryland (UMBC) accepts 72.43% of applicants, while Northeastern accepts 5.2%.
Do Maryland (UMBC) or Northeastern graduates earn more?
Northeastern graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $93K vs $70K.
How much is tuition at Maryland (UMBC) vs Northeastern?
Sticker-price tuition is $32,735 per year at Maryland (UMBC) and $69,289 per year at Northeastern.
What SAT score do you need for Maryland (UMBC) or Northeastern?
The median admitted SAT score is 1323 at Maryland (UMBC) and 1490 at Northeastern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Maryland (UMBC) or Northeastern?
Northeastern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #601-700 for Maryland (UMBC) vs #201-300 for Northeastern.
Which university offers more financial aid - Maryland (UMBC) or Northeastern?
The average aid package is $14,712 at Maryland (UMBC) and $46,555 at Northeastern.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern