University of Maryland, Baltimore County
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
University of Rhode Island
KINGSTON, RI
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Maryland (UMBC) vs Rhode Island - 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 Rhode Island
RHODE ISLAND
Kingston, RI
World rank · ARWU#801-900
Acceptance72.2%
Median SAT1160
Graduation rate73.3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$70K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Maryland, Baltimore County University of Rhode Island
#601-700 World rank · ARWU #801-900
- Rank · THE -
72.43% Acceptance rate 72.2%
1323 Median SAT 1160
70% Graduation rate 73.3%
13,906 Enrollment 14,466

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

72.43% Acceptance rate 72.2%
21.6% Yield rate 16.4%
1323 Median SAT 1160
4.13 Avg. GPA 3.65
14,325 Number of applications 28,021
4.8% Int'l students 1.2%
$70K Median earnings · 10 yrs $70K
$45K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $44K
$101K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $102K
70% Graduation rate 73.3%
85% Retention rate 85%
$19,500 Median debt $22,250
$32,735 Tuition · year $38,398
$14,712 Avg. aid package $17,595
47% % of need met 57%
$22,450 Avg. graduate debt $42,945
$75 Application fee $65
$13,080 Avg. int'l aid $26,565
At a glance
Maryland (UMBC) leads in 7 of 12 measured metrics
Grad. debt$22,450 vs $42,945
Yield21.6% vs 16.4%
% of need47% vs 57%

The verdict, from the data

For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Rhode Island awards international students $26,565 on average, Maryland (UMBC) awards $13,080.

The tuition gap is $5,663 a year: $32,735 (Maryland (UMBC)) against $38,398.

163 points separate the SAT profiles: 1323 (Maryland (UMBC)) against 1160.

Both universities have a small international community (at most 4.8% of students), which is worth weighing if that environment matters to you.

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

Rhode Island is the more selective of the two (72.2% vs 72.43% acceptance). Maryland (UMBC) ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#601-700 vs #801-900). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($70K vs $70K). Maryland (UMBC) has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,735 vs $38,398 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: a higher world ranking, higher graduate earnings, lower tuition.

Choose Rhode Island for: higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate, a larger aid package.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Rhode Island is more selective (72.2% vs 72.43% acceptance); Maryland (UMBC) has a higher median SAT (1323 vs 1160).

Graduate outcomes

Maryland (UMBC) graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($70K vs $70K); Rhode Island has a higher 6-year graduation rate (73.3% vs 70%).

Cost and aid

Maryland (UMBC) has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,735 vs $38,398); Rhode Island offers a larger average aid package ($17,595 vs $14,712).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Maryland (UMBC) Rhode Island
World rank · ARWU#601-700#801-900
Rank · THE--
Acceptance rate72.43%72.2%
Yield rate21.6%16.4%
Median SAT13231160
Avg. GPA4.133.65
Number of applications14,32528,021
International students4.8%1.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$70K$70K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$45K$44K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$101K$102K
Graduation rate70%73.3%
Retention rate85%85%
Median debt$19,500$22,250
Tuition · year$32,735$38,398
Avg. aid package$14,712$17,595
% of need met47%57%
Avg. graduate debt$22,450$42,945
Application fee$75$65
Enrollment13,90614,466

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Maryland (UMBC) or Rhode Island?

It's harder to get into Rhode Island. Maryland (UMBC) accepts 72.43% of applicants, while Rhode Island accepts 72.2%.

Do Maryland (UMBC) or Rhode Island graduates earn more?

Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $70K at Maryland (UMBC) and $70K at Rhode Island.

How much is tuition at Maryland (UMBC) vs Rhode Island?

Sticker-price tuition is $32,735 per year at Maryland (UMBC) and $38,398 per year at Rhode Island.

What SAT score do you need for Maryland (UMBC) or Rhode Island?

The median admitted SAT score is 1323 at Maryland (UMBC) and 1160 at Rhode Island; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Maryland (UMBC) or Rhode Island?

Maryland (UMBC) ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #601-700 for Maryland (UMBC) vs #801-900 for Rhode Island.

Which university offers more financial aid - Maryland (UMBC) or Rhode Island?

The average aid package is $14,712 at Maryland (UMBC) and $17,595 at Rhode Island.

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.