University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore, Maryland · Public · 72.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 84/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) earns an 84 ROI score and lands in Strong Value tier, the highest score in our dataset and one of the better public-university results on the platform. UMBC has built a national reputation in STEM (especially computer science, computer engineering, and information science) and a research-university profile that punches above its size. In-state tuition is $13,256 (out-of-state $31,275), net price is $16,467, total 4-year cost $65,868. Median 6-year earnings of $42,900 climb to $69,960 at 10 years, payback period is a quick 5.9 years, median debt is $19,500, and debt-to-earnings is 0.455. The completion rate is 70% and the three-year repayment rate is 77.8%. The earnings premium subscore of 91 reflects UMBC's strong feeder pipelines into Baltimore-DC metro tech, biotech, federal government, and defense employers. Among public flagships and near-flagships in the Mid-Atlantic, UMBC's combination of low in-state cost and strong STEM earnings makes it one of the cleanest value propositions in the region.
University of Maryland-Baltimore County scores in the top 25% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $13,256/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $31,275/yr |
| Average net price | $16,467/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $65,868 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $69,960 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $207 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 70.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 10,701 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $13,256/year ($31,275/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $16,467/year, or roughly $65,868 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $5,087/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $25,439/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $19,500 in federal loans, which works out to about $207 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $69,960 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.46, comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $5,087 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,714 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,543 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,172 |
| $110,001+ | $25,439 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $5,087 net, one of the best access prices in the dataset. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $10,714. For Pell-eligible Maryland students, UMBC is functionally tuition-free after Pell and state grants, with manageable federal-loan coverage of remaining cost. Genuine high-access pricing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $16,543 and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $22,172. The aid curve is well-shaped: middle-income families face meaningful but reasonable costs. Combined with strong earnings outcomes, the math is compelling for middle-income Maryland families.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $25,439 net, $5,836 below the $31,275 out-of-state sticker. UMBC's pricing structure favors in-state residents heavily, and high-income Marylanders still see meaningful discount versus sticker. The combination of cost discipline and STEM earnings makes UMBC competitive with private alternatives at 3-4x cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Maryland-Baltimore County with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $54,039 | C |
| Computer Science | $105,706 | A |
| Biology | $69,724 | C |
| Information Science | $95,435 | B+ |
| Mechanical Engineering | $95,078 | B+ |
| Economics | $79,729 | B |
| Social Work | $58,412 | C |
| International Relations | $64,756 | C |
| Mathematics | $88,967 | B+ |
| Health Professions, Residency Programs | $68,823 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science is UMBC's flagship program with 330 graduates, posting $83,684 in 1-year earnings and $105,706 at year four. The 0.239 debt-to-earnings ratio against $20,000 of debt earns an A grade. This is one of the cleanest large-cohort ROI cases in the dataset: starting pay near the national average for the major, six-figure 4-year earnings, and a Baltimore-DC tech labor market with Amazon, Lockheed, NSA-cleared contractors, and federal cybersecurity hiring.
Biology
Biology graduates 318 students with $33,055 in 1-year earnings and $69,724 at year four. The 0.605 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a C grade against $20,000 of debt. The year-one figure reflects the pre-health bottleneck: many UMBC biology graduates are in MCAT prep, post-bacc programs, or research-tech roles in year one before progressing into medical, dental, PA, or graduate biology pathways. The 4-year jump captures that progression.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 332 students with $35,721 in 1-year earnings and $54,039 at year four. The 0.574 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a C grade. Modest undergraduate earnings, healthy 4-year progression. Graduates entering the Baltimore-DC social-services and federal-agency labor market (where psychology credentials translate to case management and federal-civilian roles) see steadier wage progression than national psychology averages would suggest.
Information Science
Information Science posts 226 graduates with $63,334 in 1-year earnings and $95,435 at year four. The 0.326 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a B+ grade against $20,633 of debt. UMBC's information science program is a quieter sibling to CS but feeds into the same DMV tech and federal data-analytics labor market. The combination of in-state pricing and 95K 4-year earnings makes this one of the strongest non-CS ROI cases.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering graduates 111 students with $71,519 in 1-year earnings and $95,078 at year four. The 0.301 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a B+ grade. ME at UMBC feeds into the defense contractor pipeline (Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Naval Air Systems Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground), where engineering pay with clearances scales sharply. Debt of $21,500 against these earnings is comfortably serviced.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 71.6% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.5% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Maryland-Baltimore County’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 72.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 610-720 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 630-700 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-31 |
| Enrollment | 10,701 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 30.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,145 |
UMBC admits 72.4% of applicants, a moderately selective public posture. SAT mid-ranges of 610-720 in math and 630-700 in reading are strong, and ACT composites of 25-31 reinforce that the admitted population is academically prepared. The 70% completion rate is consistent with that admit profile and confirms the institution is selecting and supporting students effectively. STEM-prepared students fare best.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UMBC's peer set is well-matched. Rutgers Newark is the closest Mid-Atlantic peer in size, mission, and STEM emphasis. University of Baltimore and Bowie State are intra-Maryland peers with different missions; Bowie is the HBCU peer with a different population profile. University of Rhode Island and CU Denver are out-of-state public regionals. Within the directly comparable Mid-Atlantic STEM-focused public set, UMBC's combination of in-state pricing and earnings outcomes is among the strongest, with computer science earnings ($83K year one) approaching private-flagship levels.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland-Baltimore County (this school) | 84 | $16,467 | $69,960 |
| Rutgers University-Newark | 82 | $19,703 | $74,479 |
| University of Rhode Island | 79 | $21,440 | $69,743 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 76 | $11,900 | $64,270 |
| University of Baltimore | 64 | $13,868 | $61,335 |
| Bowie State University | 40 | $19,298 | $54,537 |
Who Thrives Here
UMBC fits Maryland and broader Mid-Atlantic students targeting STEM career pathways, especially computer science, computer engineering, information science, biotech, and quantitative social sciences. With 10,701 students and a 30% Pell rate, the campus is mid-size, diverse, and STEM-heavy. Strong fits are technically prepared students with a Baltimore-DC metro target labor market (NSA, federal agencies, defense contractors, biotech corridor). Weaker fits are arts and humanities students; UMBC's data is most unforgiving in fine arts, music, and theater.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Maryland-Baltimore County pays off. You'd pay about $16,467 a year after aid ($65,868 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $69,960 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 5.9 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 70.0% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. A median $19,500 owed against $69,960 in annual earnings is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
University of Maryland-Baltimore County: Common Questions
Is University of Maryland-Baltimore County worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Maryland-Baltimore County pays off. It scores 84/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $16,467 a year after aid ($65,868 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $69,960 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.9 years to earn back.
How much does University of Maryland-Baltimore County cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $16,467 a year, or roughly $65,868 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Maryland-Baltimore County graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $69,960 ten years after enrolling, roughly $28,160 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Maryland-Baltimore County?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 5.9 years for University of Maryland-Baltimore County. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do University of Maryland-Baltimore County graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $19,500, against $69,960 in typical earnings a decade out. That is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should stay under a year of salary.
What is the graduation rate at University of Maryland-Baltimore County?
The six-year graduation rate is 70.0%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.