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. 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. Average 6-year earnings of $42,900 climb to a median $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.
University of Maryland-Baltimore County scores in the top 10% of the schools we score, 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 |
| Average 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), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $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.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $19,500, which works out to about $207 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,900) and comes to 0.46, which in our view is 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. 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.
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. The Baltimore-DC tech labor market includes 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 a strong non-CS ROI case.
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, 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 | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 71.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.5% | 72.8% |
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.
| 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.
Median debt of $19,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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 - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $16,467 a year, or roughly $65,868 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. 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. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Maryland-Baltimore County graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $19,500, against average earnings of $42,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
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.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.