University of Maryland Baltimore County

The University of Maryland Baltimore County is an honors university and is classified as an R1 research university. Meaning, the university is placed into the category of doctoral universities with very high research activity, known as R1. In other words, the university’s classification as an R1 university with comprehensive doctoral programs reflects the strength and diversity of UMBC’s research portfolio.

UMBC is a public institute that was founded in 1966. It is a top-ranked national university. In the 2026 edition of best colleges ranking (national universities category), UMBC ranks at #127 position. Furthermore, there are more than 250 student organizations. Also, the class size at the university is of around 50 students. 

The University of Maryland Baltimore County has an acceptance rate of around 72%, which makes getting admission to it a less competitive affair.

• The average GPA of first-year international students was 4.06
• Average SAT score was 1320
• ACT score was 27.75 

To get into UMBC, Indian students must have completed high school for admission to UG courses. For admission to PG courses, the students must have at least an undergraduate degree. 

According to Shiksha's rating, UMBC has been rated at 3.9. A few of the reviews of Indian students at UMBC are:

• There are career-focused programme with good opportunities
• Also, there are many Indian restaurants and grocery stores nearby UMBC that offers authentic food
• There are many cultural events and diverse range of clubs and organizations at UMBC. Open mic nights and movie screenings are held at the university's campus
• The faculty is quite good

UMBC acceptance rate is around 74%, whereas, the University of Maryland, College Park acceptance rate is around 45%. This indicates that University of Maryland, College Park is more selective. However, both the universities are reputable. Both universities excel in academics. UMD is known for the study fields like Business, Engineering, Journalism, among others. On the other hand, UMBC is known for the study fields like Computer Science, Biology, Engineering, etc.

MS in Information Systems course at UMBC is a STEM-designated program. For a full-time student, the degree completion will take 1.5 – 2 years.

GRE score is not required for admission to this program. A bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA is required. Benefits of studying this course are-

• Fully accredited
• Could be completed in just 2 years
• Assigned faculty advisor upon completion

Indian students can apply to <a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/usa/universities/university-of-maryland-baltimore-county/master-of-professional-studies-in-data-science">UMBC Master of Professional Studies in Data Science</a> course through direct university's application. 

• A Bachelor's degree in any subject with a minimum UG GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Applicants without the previous post-secondary education in Calculus, Statistics or Basic Programming should take these courses at a university or community college before submitting the application
• GRE scores are not required
• English language proficiency score 

Here is a list of some of the people who studied at UMBC:

Names

Designation

Kathleen Turner

Actress

Duff Goldman

Businessman, Chef, TV Personality, and Writer

Jerome Adams

Surgeon General of the US

Scott Seiss

Actor & Comedian

Johnathon Schaech 

Actor

Steven Fischer

Fimmaker

The Class of 2023 UMBC graduates were hired by a few of the companies given below-

• Accenture
• Apple
• Amazon
• EY
• Deloitte
• Capital One
• Morgan Stanley
• Lockheed Martin 
• Microsoft
• GSK
• General Dynamics
• JP Morgan Chase
• Northrop Grumman
• U.S. Armed Forces

As per the 2023 outcomes, 93% is the placement rate (overall). As per the International Viewbook, 92% of the UG alumni are employed and / or pursuing further education within 6 months of graduation. On the other hand, 95% of PG alumni are employed and / or pursuing further education within 6 months of graduation. The average salary for the PG international graduates is USD 83,864 and for UG international students is USD 61,163. Top employers of the university's graduates include Amazon, Accenture, Deloitte, Cisco, Apple, Google, Intel, etc. 

The submission of GRE test score is an optional criterion for UMBC graduate applicants. This criterion may be applicable for some courses. Apart from the submission of the GRE score, make sure to submit the following documents along with the application:

• Academic transcripts
• Evidence of language proficiency
• Letters of Recommendation
• Goal statement
• Resume
• Any other additional document

UMBC MS in CS international students are required to have a GRE score. Other pre-requisites for admission to this programme are:

• An undergraduate degree
• A strong background in Computer and Mathematics course
• Academic transcripts
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• TOEFL score

Check details about MS in CS in USA from here. 

The application fee at UMBC varies as per the course levels. The UG and PG application fees are stated below:

• UG: USD 75 (Around INR 6,300)
• PG: USD 50 (Around INR 4,200)

The UG applications can be submitted via Common App, whereas, the applications for PG courses can be submitted via the graduate application form link.

 

Yes, UMBC accepts Duolingo for both and UG and PG courses. The minimum scores required in Duolingo as well as other ELP test scores are given below:

Tests

UG

PG

Duolingo

115

115

TOEFL

80

80+

IELTS

6.5

6.5 for Traditional and 6.5 – 7.5 for Professional programs

PTE

53

53 for Traditional and 61-68 for Professional programs

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County offers a range of General merit scholarships to international students. The scholarship covers 50% off the tution fee. The scholarship eligibility is given below:

• Cumulative averages
• SAT or ACT scores (if applicable)
• Individual grades
• High school programme grade

The Uni of Maryland Baltimore County participates in the #YouareWelcomeHere national scholarship program, that offers scholarships to international students in the U.S. The International Student and Scholar Services offers two annual, renewable scholarships for up to 4 years. This covers 50% off the tuition fees at the time at the time of initial matriculation. 

Given below is the tuition fee as living expenses for UMBC international students:

CourseTuitionHostel<a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/usa/universities/university-of-maryland-baltimore-county/courses/ms-bc">MS</a>INR 11.52 L - 30.62 LINR 13.81 L - 15.83 L<a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/usa/universities/university-of-maryland-baltimore-county/courses/mba-pgdm-bc">MBA/PGDM</a>INR 20.12 L - 26.82 LINR 14.66 L - 15.83 L<a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/usa/universities/university-of-maryland-baltimore-county/courses/pg-certificate-bc">PG Certificate</a>INR 13.02 L - 23.66 LINR 14.66 L<a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/usa/universities/university-of-maryland-baltimore-county/courses/ma-bc">M.A.</a>INR 17.81 L - 40.72 LINR 14.66 L - 15.25 L<a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/usa/universities/university-of-maryland-baltimore-county/courses/mem-bc">MEM</a>INR 24.82 LINR 15.83 L<a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/usa/universities/university-of-maryland-baltimore-county/courses/bba-bc">BBA</a>INR 29.09 L - 29.1 LINR 11.83 L - 13.64 L<a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/usa/universities/university-of-maryland-baltimore-county/courses/bsc-bc">B.Sc.</a>INR 29.09 L - 29.1 LINR 11.83 L - 13.64 L<a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/usa/universities/university-of-maryland-baltimore-county/courses/be-btech-bc">B.E. / B.Tech</a>INR 25.53 L - 29.1 LINR 11.83 L - 13.64 L

Also Check: 

• <a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/cost-of-studying-in-the-us-articlepage-1587">Cost of Studying in USA</a>

 

Here is the estimated cost of living for the international students at UMBC for the academic year 2026-27:

Particulars

UG

PG

Housing

USD 9,428 (Around INR 9 L)

USD 16,242 

Food

USD 6,490 (Around INR 6.2 L)

USD 5,100 

Books

USD 1,600 (Around INR 1.5 L)

USD 800 

Transportation

USD 1,900 (Around INR 2 L)

USD 3,348

Other 

USD 7,546 (Around INR 7.22 L)

USD 7,546

Direct loan fee

USD 142 (Around INR 13.5k)

USD 176

PLUS loan fee

USD 1,264 (Around INR 1.2 L)

USD 830

The UMBC MS in CS programme provided advanced instruction and training and research opportunities to prepare students for varied sectors such as Business, Industry, Academia, and Govt. Agencies. This programme reflects state-of-the-art knowledge in major theoretical and applied aspects of Computation. The tuition fee for Indian students for MSc in CS course at this university is INR 25 lakh. 

At the UG level, there are 100+ majors offered by UMBC. These majors are offered in a variety of study fields such as:

• Business Management
• Arts
• Engineering
• Humanities
• Language & Communications
• Policy / Government
• Social Sciences
• Science & Math
• Technology / Computing

According to unofficial sources, the most popular majors at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County are:

• Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
• Social Sciences
• Psychology
• Biological and Biomedical Sciences
• Engineering
• Public Administration and Social Service Professions
• Mathematics and Statistics
• Health Professions and Related Programs

Students can expect <a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/usa/universities/university-of-maryland-baltimore-county/master-of-science-in-engineering-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MS in Engineering Management of UMBC</a> to be completed in 1.5 years - 2 years. The graduates of MS in Engineering Management can work with the companies like -

• Amazon
• Northrop Grumman
• Accenture
• Lockheed Martin

For admission to this course, a Bachelor's degree is required for admission to this course. 

According to QS Global rankings, UMBC ranking is #801-850 in 2026. Also, in the Global Universities rankings by U.S News, this university ranks at #847 in 2025. Check the <a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/usa/universities">List of Top Universities & Colleges of US from here</a>.

 

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County ranks at #127 position in the national universities category ranking in 2026. This university was ranked at #144 position in the previous year. This ranking in the U.S. shows that UMBC ranking has improved in 2026. 

UMBC subject rankings as per U.S. News are given below for 2026-

• Chemical Engineering PG: #67
• Computer Engineering PG: #85
• Mechanical Engineering: #93
• Electrical Engineering PG: #112

Students can get involved with any one of the in 260+ student clubs and organizations or take part in the athletic teams of UMBC. 

• A career center, 24/7 study spaces, and academic support
• The state-of-the-art fitness center that includes a gym, multi-purpose recreation courts, a cycling studio etc.
• Doctor services, counselling, and prayer spaces

 

UMBC campus size is 500 acres. The main campus of UMBC is located between Baltimore, MD, and Washington, D.C. There are 270+ student organizations at this campus. A few of the categories for student organizations at UMBC are Arts & Media, Health & Wellness, Politics, Academic, Career & Professional, Cultural & Ethnic, etc.