University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) vs Grand Valley State

When it comes to choosing the right university, it's essential to compare institutions to find the best fit. University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) and Grand Valley State University (GVSU) are two excellent options with distinct characteristics. UMBC, located in Baltimore, Maryland, boasts a higher acceptance rate (74%) compared to GVSU's 84%. Both universities offer a diverse range of popular majors, including business, engineering, and nursing. However, UMBC has a slightly larger student body, with over 13,000 undergraduates, while GVSU has a more balanced gender ratio. Additionally, UMBC has a higher graduation rate (68%) than GVSU (63%). Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic goals and preferences.
Grand Valley State University logo

Grand Valley State University

University of Maryland-Baltimore County logo

University of Maryland-Baltimore County

Overview

Location Allendale, Michigan Baltimore, Maryland
Campus setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester 4-1-4
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 83.0% 87.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.7% 81.2%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $50
SAT range N/A 1220 - 1410
ACT range N/A 25 - 30
Students submitting SAT score 24.0%
Students submitting ACT score 5.0%
Total number of applicants 17,163 11,093
Total number of admissions given out 15,730 9,007
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,807 2,052
Yield rate 24.2% 22.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $23,604

Out of state: $29,340
In state: $32,716

Out of state: $48,906
Average net price $16,947 $6,912
Tuition
In state: $13,560

Out of state: $19,296
In state: $8,878

Out of state: $25,068
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,380

Meal plan: $3,500
Room/dormitory: $7,310

Meal plan: $4,940
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

80.0%
Average amount $8,376
74.0%
Average amount $8,758
Students receiving federal student loan 50.0%
Average amount $5,161
24.0%
Average amount $4,732
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $13,024
2.0%
Average amount $14,975

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 19,379
Men 38.9% Women 61.1%
10,835
Men 54.4% Women 45.6%
Graduate students 3,027
Men 28.0% Women 72.0%
2,803
Men 51.6% Women 48.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 10.6% 5.0%
International students 1.8% 10.5%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 6,012 3,644
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Michigan Illinois Indiana Ohio Texas Maryland New Jersey Pennsylvania New York Virginia

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 67.1% 71.0%
Dropout rate 15.6% 14.0%
Transferred out 15.4% 12.7%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $103,525
  • Year 2: $105,839
  • Year 3: $111,967
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,846
  • Year 2: $96,539
  • Year 3: $93,695
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,623
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $83,454
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,965
  • Year 2: $68,666
  • Year 3: $73,434
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,881
  • Year 2: $62,691
  • Year 3: $72,792
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,211
  • Year 2: $65,969
  • Year 3: $72,474
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,095
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $71,736
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,039
  • Year 2: $58,479
  • Year 3: $69,240
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,382
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $68,410
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,161
  • Year 2: $67,939
  • Year 3: $68,289
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $95,196
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $81,374
  • Year 2: $75,383
  • Year 3: $88,572
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,765
  • Year 2: $72,134
  • Year 3: $86,874
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,661
  • Year 2: $73,112
  • Year 3: $85,246
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,747
  • Year 2: $70,009
  • Year 3: $82,906
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,329
  • Year 2: $63,600
  • Year 3: $75,222
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,810
  • Year 2: $62,111
  • Year 3: $72,223
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,037
  • Year 2: $60,240
  • Year 3: $71,621
Curriculum and Instruction (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $63,109
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $62,490
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,390
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $59,425

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