Tufts vs Maryland (UMBC) - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Tufts admits 11.5% of applications, Maryland (UMBC) admits 72.4%.
The more international environment is at Tufts (12.5% international students) than Maryland (UMBC) (4.8%).
Real money goes to international students at Tufts ($80,079 on average), while Maryland (UMBC) stops at $13,080.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Tufts starts at $93,182 against $54,581 and ends at $33,608 against $39,869 (Maryland (UMBC)).
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
Tufts is the more selective of the two (11.49% vs 72.43% acceptance). Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #601-700). Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $70K). Maryland (UMBC) has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,735 vs $73,616 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 Tufts for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Maryland (UMBC) for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Tufts is more selective (11.49% vs 72.43% acceptance); Tufts has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1323).
Tufts graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($83K vs $70K); Tufts has a higher 6-year graduation rate (93.5% vs 70%).
Maryland (UMBC) has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,735 vs $73,616); Tufts offers a larger average aid package ($59,574 vs $14,712).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Tufts | Maryland (UMBC) |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #151-200 | #601-700 |
| Rank · THE | #179 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 11.49% | 72.43% |
| Yield rate | 45.5% | 21.6% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1323 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 4.13 |
| Number of applications | 34,432 | 14,325 |
| International students | 12.5% | 4.8% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $83K | $70K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $47K | $45K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $132K | $101K |
| Graduation rate | 93.5% | 70% |
| Retention rate | 95.5% | 85% |
| Median debt | $16,250 | $19,500 |
| Tuition · year | $73,616 | $32,735 |
| Avg. aid package | $59,574 | $14,712 |
| % of need met | 100% | 47% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $25,584 | $22,450 |
| Application fee | - | $75 |
| Enrollment | 13,599 | 13,906 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Tufts or Maryland (UMBC)?
It's harder to get into Tufts. Tufts accepts 11.49% of applicants, while Maryland (UMBC) accepts 72.43%.
Do Tufts or Maryland (UMBC) graduates earn more?
Tufts graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $83K vs $70K.
How much is tuition at Tufts vs Maryland (UMBC)?
Sticker-price tuition is $73,616 per year at Tufts and $32,735 per year at Maryland (UMBC).
What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Maryland (UMBC)?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Tufts and 1323 at Maryland (UMBC); aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Tufts or Maryland (UMBC)?
Tufts ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Tufts vs #601-700 for Maryland (UMBC).
Which university offers more financial aid - Tufts or Maryland (UMBC)?
The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $14,712 at Maryland (UMBC).
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern