BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

AMHERST, MA

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Maryland (UMBC) vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - US university comparison

MARYLAND (UMBC)

Baltimore, Maryland

World rank · ARWU#601-700

Acceptance72.43%

Median SAT1323

Graduation rate70%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$70K

RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE

Amherst, MA

World rank · ARWU#501-600

Acceptance63.5%

Median SAT1456

Graduation rate83.6%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Maryland, Baltimore County Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

#601-700 World rank · ARWU #501-600

- Rank · THE -

72.43% Acceptance rate 63.5%

1323 Median SAT 1456

70% Graduation rate 83.6%

13,906 Enrollment 7,042

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

72.43% Acceptance rate 63.5%

21.6% Yield rate 14.4%

1323 Median SAT 1456

4.13 Avg. GPA 3.93

14,325 Number of applications 14,356

4.8% Int'l students 2.2%

At a glance

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute leads in 7 of 12 measured metrics

Aid$14,712 vs $50,402

Tuition$32,735 vs $67,976

Grad. debt$22,450 vs $39,539

The verdict, from the data

For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awards international students $48,307 on average, Maryland (UMBC) awards $13,080.

The tuition gap is $35,241 a year: $32,735 (Maryland (UMBC)) against $67,976.

The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $102K against $70K.

133 points separate the SAT profiles: 1456 (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) 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

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the more selective of the two (63.5% vs 72.43% acceptance). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#601-700 vs #501-600). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $70K). Maryland (UMBC) has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,735 vs $67,976 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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 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

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is more selective (63.5% vs 72.43% acceptance); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher median SAT (1456 vs 1323).

Graduate outcomes

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $70K); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has a higher 6-year graduation rate (83.6% vs 70%).

Cost and aid

Maryland (UMBC) has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,735 vs $67,976); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a larger average aid package ($50,402 vs $14,712).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

Each dot is a comparable US university; Maryland (UMBC) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Maryland (UMBC)	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
World rank · ARWU	#601-700	#501-600
Rank · THE	-	-
Acceptance rate	72.43%	63.5%
Yield rate	21.6%	14.4%
Median SAT	1323	1456
Avg. GPA	4.13	3.93
Number of applications	14,325	14,356
International students	4.8%	2.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$70K	$102K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$45K	$71K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$101K	$137K
Graduation rate	70%	83.6%
Retention rate	85%	91%
Median debt	$19,500	$23,750
Tuition · year	$32,735	$67,976
Avg. aid package	$14,712	$50,402
% of need met	47%	66.2%
Avg. graduate debt	$22,450	$39,539
Application fee	$75	$70
Enrollment	13,906	7,042

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Maryland (UMBC) or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

It's harder to get into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Maryland (UMBC) accepts 72.43% of applicants, while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5%.

Do Maryland (UMBC) or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $70K.

How much is tuition at Maryland (UMBC) vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Sticker-price tuition is $32,735 per year at Maryland (UMBC) and $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

What SAT score do you need for Maryland (UMBC) or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

The median admitted SAT score is 1323 at Maryland (UMBC) and 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Maryland (UMBC) or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #601-700 for Maryland (UMBC) vs #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Which university offers more financial aid - Maryland (UMBC) or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

The average aid package is $14,712 at Maryland (UMBC) and $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Compare Maryland (UMBC) with

Harvard

Stanford

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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.