IU-Bloomington vs University of Maryland-College Park (UMD)

Indiana University-Bloomington (IU) and University of Maryland-College Park (UMD) are two highly regarded public research universities with distinct characteristics. IU, located in Bloomington, Indiana, boasts a lower acceptance rate (78%) compared to UMD's 44%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with IU excelling in fields like business, education, and music, while UMD is known for its strength in engineering, computer science, and public policy. IU's student body is slightly larger, with over 40,000 undergraduates, while UMD has a more diverse student population, with international students comprising 13% of the undergraduate body. In terms of graduation rates, UMD has a slight edge, with 87% of its students completing their degrees within six years, compared to IU's 84%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these

	Indiana University-Bloomington	University of Maryland-College Park
Overview
Location	Bloomington, Indiana	College Park, Maryland
Campus setting	City: Small	Suburb: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Public	Public
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	90.0%	95.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	85.0%	52.0%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $65 Graduate: $70	Undergraduate: $75 Graduate: $75
SAT range	1160 - 1380	1330 - 1510
ACT range	26 - 32	30 - 34
Students submitting SAT score	39.0%	34.0%
Students submitting ACT score	23.0%	9.0%
Total number of applicants	46,498	50,183
Total number of admissions given out	39,543	26,109
Admitted students who chose to enroll	9,482	6,072
Yield rate	24.0%	23.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	Required
Recommendation letters	Not required	Not required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	In state: $27,299 Out of state: $54,318	In state: $30,997 Out of state: $58,678
Average net price	$13,386	$17,146
Tuition	In state: $9,913 Out of state: $36,932	In state: $9,000 Out of state: $36,681
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $7,798 Meal plan: $4,300	Room/dormitory: $8,072 Meal plan: $5,578
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Prepaid tuition plan Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	67.0% Average amount $11,608	56.0% Average amount $10,645
Students receiving federal student loan	30.0% Average amount $5,040	20.0% Average amount $5,065
Students taking out private loans	7.0% Average amount $19,336	4.0% Average amount $22,924

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	34,253 Men 50.1% Women 49.9%	30,922 Men 50.8% Women 49.2%
Graduate students	11,075 Men 53.1% Women 46.9%	10,350 Men 50.7% Women 49.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Moderate
Out-of-state students	43.6%	29.5%
International students	10.4%	10.3%
Campus local/setting	City: Small	Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity	13,484	11,846
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	Indiana Illinois New Jersey California New York	Maryland New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Virginia

Academics
Popular study areas	Business Public Administration and Social Service Kinesiology & Leisure Studies Computer and Information Science Biological and Biomedical Sciences	Engineering Business Education Computer and Information Science Social Sciences
Students to faculty ratio	17:1	18:1
Institutional accreditation	Higher Learning Commission	Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	80.8%	87.7%
Dropout rate	7.9%	4.0%
Transferred out	10.2%	7.7%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $111,595 Year 2: $114,366 Year 3: $123,644 Optometry (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $95,538 Year 2: $108,370 Year 3: $115,751 Human Computer Interaction (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $76,640 Year 2: $80,355 Year 3: $97,668 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Graduate/Professional Certificates) Year 1: $101,331 Year 2: $76,460 Year 3: $88,260 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $70,263 Year 2: $70,596 Year 3: $82,012 Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $73,288 Year 2: $67,869 Year 3: $81,338 Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $79,011 Year 2: $61,516 Year 3: $79,545 Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $63,371 Year 2: $65,832 Year 3: $78,226 Law (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $66,745 Year 2: $61,516 Year 3: $75,109 Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $73,446 Year 3: $74,650	Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $108,765 Year 2: $106,102 Year 3: $116,295 Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $125,155 Year 2: $112,923 Year 3: $112,074 Engineering, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $86,533 Year 2: $94,112 Year 3: $102,555 Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $93,018 Year 2: $94,408 Year 3: $101,716 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $84,727 Year 2: $84,653 Year 3: $99,501 Physics (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $72,899 Year 3: $92,830 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $88,418 Year 2: $80,466 Year 3: $92,230 Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,675 Year 2: $72,762 Year 3: $83,667 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $74,798 Year 2: $71,761 Year 3: $82,867 Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,391 Year 2: $66,485 Year 3: $82,784

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between Indiana University Bloomington (IU) and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD)?

IU is a large public university located in a classic college town setting in Bloomington, Indiana, known for its strong programs in music, business, and liberal arts. UMD, also a large public university, is situated in a more suburban environment closer to Washington, D.C., and excels in STEM fields, public policy, and journalism. IU generally has a lower cost of attendance, especially for in-state students, while UMD offers more opportunities for internships and careers in the D.C. metropolitan area.
Which university is better for students interested in STEM fields?

The University of Maryland, College Park, generally holds an edge in STEM fields. Its proximity to Washington, D.C., provides access to numerous government agencies, research institutions, and tech companies, leading to more internship and research opportunities. UMD also has a strong engineering program and a growing reputation in computer science and cybersecurity. While IU has strong STEM programs, UMD's are typically more highly ranked and offer more specialized tracks.
Which university is better for students interested in the arts and humanities?

Indiana University Bloomington is renowned for its arts and humanities programs, particularly its Jacobs School of Music, which is consistently ranked among the best in the world. IU also has strong programs in theater, fine arts, and various humanities disciplines. While UMD offers solid arts and humanities programs, IU's reputation and resources in these areas are generally considered superior.
How do the campus environments compare?

IU offers a classic college town experience with a vibrant campus life centered around its beautiful campus and the town of Bloomington. It has a strong sense of community and tradition. UMD, while also having a lively campus, is located in a more suburban setting near Washington, D.C. This provides students with access to urban amenities and cultural attractions, but the campus environment may feel less self-contained than IU's.
What are the typical costs of attending IU and UMD?

Generally, IU has a lower cost of attendance, especially for Indiana residents. Out-of-state tuition at IU is also often lower than UMD's. However, costs can vary depending on the specific program, scholarships, and financial aid packages. It's best to check the official websites of both universities for the most up-to-date tuition and fee information and to use their net price calculators to estimate your individual cost.
Which university offers more internship and career opportunities?

The University of Maryland, College Park, benefits from its proximity to Washington, D.C., offering students a wider range of internship and career opportunities in government, non-profit organizations, and various industries. While IU has a strong alumni network and career services, UMD's location provides a distinct advantage in terms of access to a major metropolitan job market.
How do the admission requirements compare?

Both IU and UMD are selective universities, but UMD generally has slightly higher admission standards. This means that UMD typically requires higher GPAs and standardized test scores (though test-optional policies may be in place). It's important to check the specific admission requirements for each university on their respective websites and to consider your academic profile when deciding which university to apply to.
What is the student life like at IU and UMD?

Both universities offer a vibrant student life with numerous clubs, organizations, and activities. IU is known for its strong Greek life, its passionate sports fans (especially basketball), and its lively music scene. UMD also has a strong Greek life, a dedicated sports fanbase (particularly for basketball and football), and a diverse range of student organizations. Both universities offer a wide range of opportunities for students to get involved and make friends.
Which university is more diverse?

Both IU and UMD are diverse institutions, but UMD generally has a slightly more diverse student body in terms of racial and ethnic representation. Both universities are committed to fostering inclusive environments and offer resources and programs to support students from diverse backgrounds. Specific diversity statistics can be found on each university's website.
How do the graduation rates compare?

UMD typically has a slightly higher graduation rate than IU. This can be attributed to various factors, including the academic profile of the incoming students and the resources available to support student success. However, both universities have strong graduation rates and are committed to helping students complete their degrees.

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