University of Maryland, Baltimore County
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
EDINBURG, TEXAS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Maryland (UMBC) vs Texas Rio Grande Valley - 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 Texas Rio Grande Valley
TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY
Edinburg, Texas
World rank · ARWU#801-900
Acceptance94.2%
Median SAT985
Graduation rate50.9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$50K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Maryland, Baltimore County University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
#601-700 World rank · ARWU #801-900
- Rank · THE -
72.43% Acceptance rate 94.2%
1323 Median SAT 985
70% Graduation rate 50.9%
13,906 Enrollment 31,864

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

72.43% Acceptance rate 94.2%
21.6% Yield rate 55.4%
1323 Median SAT 985
4.13 Avg. GPA -
14,325 Number of applications 12,137
4.8% Int'l students 1.7%
$70K Median earnings · 10 yrs $50K
$45K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $29K
$101K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $67K
70% Graduation rate 50.9%
85% Retention rate 78.9%
$19,500 Median debt $12,950
$32,735 Tuition · year $22,287
$14,712 Avg. aid package $11,242
47% % of need met 72%
$22,450 Avg. graduate debt $14,589
$75 Application fee -
$13,080 Avg. int'l aid $6,258
At a glance
Maryland (UMBC) leads in 6 of 11 measured metrics
Yield21.6% vs 55.4%
Grad. debt$22,450 vs $14,589
% of need47% vs 72%

The verdict, from the data

The lower acceptance rate belongs to Maryland (UMBC): 72.4% against 94.2% (Texas Rio Grande Valley).

The tuition gap is $10,448 a year: $22,287 (Texas Rio Grande Valley) against $32,735.

Ten years on, graduates of Maryland (UMBC) earn noticeably more: $70K against $50K.

The higher mid-range SAT belongs to Maryland (UMBC): 1323 against 985, a gap of 338 points.

The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.

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 94.2% acceptance). Maryland (UMBC) ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#601-700 vs #801-900). Maryland (UMBC) graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($70K vs $50K). Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 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: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

Choose Texas Rio Grande Valley for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Maryland (UMBC) is more selective (72.43% vs 94.2% acceptance); Maryland (UMBC) has a higher median SAT (1323 vs 985).

Graduate outcomes

Maryland (UMBC) graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($70K vs $50K); Maryland (UMBC) has a higher 6-year graduation rate (70% vs 50.9%).

Cost and aid

Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 vs $32,735); Maryland (UMBC) offers a larger average aid package ($14,712 vs $11,242).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Maryland (UMBC) Texas Rio Grande Valley
World rank · ARWU#601-700#801-900
Rank · THE--
Acceptance rate72.43%94.2%
Yield rate21.6%55.4%
Median SAT1323985
Avg. GPA4.13-
Number of applications14,32512,137
International students4.8%1.7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$70K$50K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$45K$29K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$101K$67K
Graduation rate70%50.9%
Retention rate85%78.9%
Median debt$19,500$12,950
Tuition · year$32,735$22,287
Avg. aid package$14,712$11,242
% of need met47%72%
Avg. graduate debt$22,450$14,589
Application fee$75-
Enrollment13,90631,864

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Maryland (UMBC) or Texas Rio Grande Valley?

It's harder to get into Maryland (UMBC). Maryland (UMBC) accepts 72.43% of applicants, while Texas Rio Grande Valley accepts 94.2%.

Do Maryland (UMBC) or Texas Rio Grande Valley graduates earn more?

Maryland (UMBC) graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $70K vs $50K.

How much is tuition at Maryland (UMBC) vs Texas Rio Grande Valley?

Sticker-price tuition is $32,735 per year at Maryland (UMBC) and $22,287 per year at Texas Rio Grande Valley.

What SAT score do you need for Maryland (UMBC) or Texas Rio Grande Valley?

The median admitted SAT score is 1323 at Maryland (UMBC) and 985 at Texas Rio Grande Valley; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Maryland (UMBC) or Texas Rio Grande Valley?

Maryland (UMBC) ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #601-700 for Maryland (UMBC) vs #801-900 for Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Which university offers more financial aid - Maryland (UMBC) or Texas Rio Grande Valley?

The average aid package is $14,712 at Maryland (UMBC) and $11,242 at Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Compare Maryland (UMBC) with
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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.