Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Maryland-Baltimore County 45th for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 92nd percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Computer Science 26th nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions — a program-level anchor that reflects University of Maryland-Baltimore County's dominant strength in Computer Science and applied technology fields. Graduates earn median $62,000 four years after enrollment, placing University of Maryland-Baltimore County in the 91st percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — driven in large part by the university's concentration in high-demand computing and engineering fields.
Azimuth ranks University of Maryland-Baltimore County #161 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Baltimore, MD, University of Maryland-Baltimore County enrolls roughly 10,701 undergraduates. Retention is 85.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 70.0%, reflecting strong degree completion relative to peer institutions. The composite is driven by return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of Maryland-Baltimore County #348 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,288 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Maryland-Baltimore County in the 74.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Computer Science is the dominant program family, and Social Sciences accounts for 9% of degree output — a concentration that helps explain the institution's strong earnings performance. Information Science/Studies stands out at the program level: Azimuth ranks it #6 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions, at 1.12× the national benchmark for that field. Mobility sits in the 88.8 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, supported by a student body where 30.0% receive Pell Grants and 27.4% are first-generation college students. University of Maryland-Baltimore County admits about 72.4% of applicants, providing broad access without sacrificing outcomes. Affordability sits in the 72.0 percentile and access in the 80.1 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, rounding out a where strong return on investment anchors the overall ranking.
University of Maryland-Baltimore County's published cost of attendance is $28,576, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $5,087 per year in net price, middle-income families pay around $16,543, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,439. Azimuth ranks University of Maryland-Baltimore County #400 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. UMBC participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and Maryland residents benefit from in-state tuition structures that keep the sticker price below what many comparable research universities charge. Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of costs for qualifying students, and the gap between published cost and actual net price is widest for low-income families — the group that benefits most from UMBC's aid reach. Families weighing the net price illusion should compare net price rather than sticker price when evaluating affordability across institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $26,987; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $74,396, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Maryland-Baltimore County is a strong fit for students drawn to Computer Science, engineering, and applied sciences who want a public research university in MD with a clear path to strong post-graduation earnings. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $74,396, placing University of Maryland-Baltimore County in the 74.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — and graduates earn about $4,288 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 74.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access profile is broad. 30.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 27.4% are first-generation college students, and University of Maryland-Baltimore County sits in the 85.7 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure — a signal that students from lower-income backgrounds convert their degrees into meaningful financial outcomes here. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Computer Science and STEM-adjacent fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those pursuing humanities or social-science-heavy paths may find a narrower range of options. Median debt at graduation is $19,500, and higher-income families pay a net price of approximately $25,439 — context worth weighing alongside the earnings trajectory before enrolling.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the University Of Maryland-Baltimore County hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Maryland-Baltimore County's published cost of attendance is $28,576, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $5,087 per year in net price, middle-income families pay around $16,543, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,439.
Azimuth ranks University of Maryland-Baltimore County #400 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
UMBC participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and Maryland residents benefit from in-state tuition structures that keep the sticker price below what many comparable research universities charge. Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of costs for qualifying students, and the gap between published cost and actual net price is widest for low-income families — the group that benefits most from UMBC's aid reach.
Families weighing the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) should compare net price rather than sticker price when evaluating affordability across institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $26,987; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $74,396, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of Maryland-Baltimore County earn median earnings of $74,396 four years after enrollment, placing University of Maryland-Baltimore County in the 74.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $4,288 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 74.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Maryland-Baltimore County #348 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern at University of Maryland-Baltimore County is anchored by its strength in quantitative and applied fields. Computer Science combines large cohort scale with strong pay, making it a key driver of the institution's overall return profile.
Computer Science is the dominant program family, representing 9% of degree output, with Engineering at 7% and Arts at 5% rounding out the top concentrations. Among the highest-earning programs, Azimuth ranks Psychology, General #88 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 382 graduates earning median earnings of $54,039 four years after enrollment.
Azimuth ranks Biology, General #20 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 346 graduates earning median earnings of $69,724. The Computer Science program graduates 314 students annually with median earnings of $105,706, and Azimuth ranks the program #76 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of South Carolina-Columbia Similar quality tier in Southeast (#4331 ranked) | SC | 60% | $62,177 | #4331 | Compare |
The University Of Texas At Tyler Similar quality tier (#4332 ranked) | TX | 94% | $57,053 | #4332 | Compare |
University Of Mississippi Similar quality tier in Southeast (#4335 ranked) | MS | 97% | $50,994 | #4335 | Compare |
Central Connecticut State University Similar quality tier (#4336 ranked) | CT | 73% | $58,562 | #4336 | Compare |
California State University-Channel Islands Similar quality tier (#4324 ranked) | CA | 95% | $62,152 | #4324 | Compare |
Computer Engineering
48 graduates
Computer Science
314 graduates
Information Science/Studies
278 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
101 graduates
Chemical Engineering
49 graduates
University of Maryland-Baltimore County's program mix is anchored in Computer Science, with strong representation across information technology, biological sciences, and social science fields. Psychology, General is the largest program with 382 graduates, followed by Biology, General (346 graduates), Computer Science (314 graduates), Information Science/Studies (278 graduates), and Social Work (112 graduates).
Across 38 programs serving roughly 2,773 students annually, 24 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. Social Sciences accounts for 9% of degree output, Engineering accounts for 7%, and Arts accounts for 5%, reflecting a portfolio tilted toward computing and quantitative disciplines.
The strongest earnings come from technology-adjacent fields. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #76 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $105,706.
Azimuth ranks Information Science/Studies #6 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $95,435. Mechanical Engineering adds depth to the computing cluster — Azimuth ranks it #65 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $95,078.
Computer Science combines the largest cohort with strong pay, making it the program that contributes most to the institution's overall earnings profile. Computing and information-technology programs at University of Maryland-Baltimore County are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the national labor market directly — particularly in the Baltimore–Washington corridor's concentration of technology employers, federal contractors, and cybersecurity firms.
Computer Science and Information Science/Studies include grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because a meaningful share of graduates continue to graduate or professional school.
