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

North Carolina vs Maryland (UMBC) - US university comparison

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
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
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

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

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

15.34% Acceptance rate 72.43%
45.5% Yield rate 21.6%
1470 Median SAT 1323
4.49 Avg. GPA 4.13
66,535 Number of applications 14,325
6.4% Int'l students 4.8%
$72K Median earnings · 10 yrs $70K
$48K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $45K
$112K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $101K
91.2% Graduation rate 70%
96.6% Retention rate 85%
$14,000 Median debt $19,500
$45,228 Tuition · year $32,735
$20,705 Avg. aid package $14,712
100% % of need met 47%
$20,382 Avg. graduate debt $22,450
$85 Application fee $75
- Avg. int'l aid $13,080
At a glance
North Carolina leads in 11 of 12 measured metrics
Acceptance15.34% vs 72.43%
% of need100% vs 47%
Yield45.5% vs 21.6%

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 (#35 vs #601-700). 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 North Carolina for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

Choose Maryland (UMBC) for: lower tuition.

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$83kNorth CarolinaMaryland (UMBC) TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; North Carolina and Maryland (UMBC) highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric North Carolina Maryland (UMBC)
World rank · ARWU#35#601-700
Rank · THE#70-
Acceptance rate15.34%72.43%
Yield rate45.5%21.6%
Median SAT14701323
Avg. GPA4.494.13
Number of applications66,53514,325
International students6.4%4.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K$70K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$48K$45K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$112K$101K
Graduation rate91.2%70%
Retention rate96.6%85%
Median debt$14,000$19,500
Tuition · year$45,228$32,735
Avg. aid package$20,705$14,712
% of need met100%47%
Avg. graduate debt$20,382$22,450
Application fee$85$75
Enrollment32,68013,906

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Compare North Carolina 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.