UMBC: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially University of Maryland-Baltimore County · Baltimore, Maryland · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2024-2025
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2024-2025
- Test-optional
- Early Action
- 14,325
- Applicants
- 10,375
- Admitted72%
- 2,241
- Enrolled
- 22%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Moderately selective72% admittedRanked #137 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #87 (tie), Computer Science #103 (tie), Economics #172 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by University of Maryland-Baltimore County (see the source), read on 2026-06-15.
Is UMBC a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places UMBC against it in about a minute. No account needed.
UMBC is a public university in Baltimore, Maryland that admits about 72% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $16,467 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Psychology, General, Biology, General and Computer Science, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 70% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 4.7 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
UMBC is a public institution located in Baltimore, Maryland with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, UMBC admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 72%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1323 and an ACT composite around 28. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $16,467 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for UMBC?
59% of enrolled students at UMBC had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.13, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
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What does UMBC weight in admissions?
UMBC reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
- Application essay
Important
2- Class rank
- Talent/ability
Considered
7- Standardized test scores
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not Considered
6- Interview
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores UMBC typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 610–720, with an EBRW midpoint near 655. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–31. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | n/a |
| 50th percentile | 1323 |
| 75th percentile | n/a |
| % submitting SAT | 27% |
| 25th percentile | 25 |
| 50th percentile | 29 |
| 75th percentile | 31 |
| % submitting ACT | 3% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • SAT/ACT optional; recent US grads may send scores if they help (admit middle 50% SAT 1240-1420).
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on UMBC's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 24% |
| Top 25% of class | 53% |
| Top 50% of class | 86% |
| % submitting class rank | 23% |
How much does UMBC actually cost?
Published tuition is $13,256 for in-state students and $31,275 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $15,146 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $16,467 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 30% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $9,423 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $27,392 |
| Room and board | $14,771 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $16,467 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 57% |
| Average need-based grant | $13,000 |
| Average merit award, no financial need775 first-year students received one | $5,699 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 35% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $22,450 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $75 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for UMBC
| Regular deadline | February 1 |
| Notification date | Rolling basis beginning February 1 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from UMBC?
These predict outcomes at UMBC better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at UMBC
The most popular undergraduate programs at UMBC, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Biology, General and Computer Science. Across all programs, UMBC confers roughly 1,731 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $56,470 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 382 | $56,470 |
| Biology, General | 346 | $65,647 |
| Computer Science | 314 | $109,160 |
| Information Science/Studies | 278 | $99,498 |
| Social Work | 112 | $59,755 |
| Economics | 111 | $77,388 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 101 | $93,344 |
| Political Science and Government | 87 | $70,455 |
Is UMBC safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), UMBC disclosed 50 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 4.7 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 4 violent offenses and 13 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at UMBC?
About 36% of undergraduates at UMBC live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 2% of men join a fraternity and 7% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
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Next steps for UMBC
Common questions parents ask about UMBC
What GPA do I need for UMBC?
59% of enrolled students at UMBC had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.13, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does UMBC typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 610–720, with an EBRW midpoint near 655. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–31.
How much does UMBC actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at UMBC after grants and scholarships is $16,467 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $13,256 and $31,275 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is UMBC realistic for my child?
UMBC admits 72% of applicants, so 610–720 SAT Math is target range and below 610 is a reach. Then check the $16,467 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at UMBC?
UMBC accepts about 72% of applicants out of roughly 14,325 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is UMBC test-optional?
Yes. UMBC is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at UMBC?
About 70% of students at UMBC graduate within six years. 85% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does UMBC look for in applicants?
UMBC rates course rigor, GPA and the application essay as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is UMBC a public or private school, and where is it located?
UMBC is a public institution located in Baltimore, Maryland.
What are the most popular majors at UMBC?
The largest undergraduate majors at UMBC by annual graduates are Psychology, General, Biology, General and Computer Science. The school awards about 1,731 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is UMBC safe? What is its campus crime rate?
UMBC reported 50 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 4.7 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at UMBC?
At UMBC, 36% of undergraduates live on campus, 2% of men are in fraternities, 7% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Maryland-Baltimore County, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers