University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) vs Dakota State

In this comprehensive comparison, we delve into the distinct characteristics of University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) and Dakota State University (DSU), providing valuable insights for prospective students seeking the ideal academic environment. While UMBC boasts a higher acceptance rate, DSU offers a more intimate learning experience with smaller class sizes. Both universities excel in specific academic areas, with UMBC excelling in computer science and engineering, and DSU specializing in cybersecurity and information systems. Explore the nuances of each institution, including student body demographics, graduation rates, and popular majors, to make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	Dakota State University	University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Overview
Location	Madison, South Dakota	Baltimore, Maryland
Campus setting	Town: Distant	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	72.0%	87.0%
Common app member	No	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	85.6%	81.2%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $20 Graduate: $35	Undergraduate: $75 Graduate: $50
SAT range	1000 - 1245	1220 - 1410
ACT range	19 - 26	25 - 30
Students submitting SAT score	11.0%	24.0%
Students submitting ACT score	80.0%	5.0%
Total number of applicants	681	11,093
Total number of admissions given out	583	9,007
Admitted students who chose to enroll	366	2,052
Yield rate	62.8%	22.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Not required	Required
High school transcript	Required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	In state: $24,073 Out of state: $27,175	In state: $32,716 Out of state: $48,906
Average net price	$17,572	$6,912
Tuition	In state: $7,616 Out of state: $10,718	In state: $8,878 Out of state: $25,068
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $4,116 Meal plan: $3,308	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)	79.0% Average amount $4,645	74.0% Average amount $8,758
Students receiving federal student loan	58.0% Average amount $4,987	24.0% Average amount $4,732
Students taking out private loans	11.0% Average amount $9,288	2.0% Average amount $14,975

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	2,751 Men 60.9% Women 39.1%	10,835 Men 54.4% Women 45.6%
Graduate students	468 Men 74.8% Women 25.2%	2,803 Men 51.6% Women 48.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Very Low	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	5.0%
International students	4.5%	10.5%
Campus local/setting	Town: Distant	Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity	925	3,644
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	Maryland New Jersey Pennsylvania New York Virginia

Academics
Popular study areas	Computer and Information Science Education Business Liberal Arts Health Professions	Computer and Information Science Multidisciplinary Studies Engineering Education Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio	18:1	17:1
Institutional accreditation	Higher Learning Commission	Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	46.8%	71.0%
Dropout rate	49.8%	14.0%
Transferred out	N/A	12.7%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $49,983 Year 2: $51,035 Year 3: $66,125 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $37,841 Year 2: $39,369 Year 3: $46,318 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $50,973 Year 2: $55,964 Year 3: $44,718 Health and Medical Administrative Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $41,205 Year 3: $44,370 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $42,682 Year 3: $43,878 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $39,153 Year 3: $38,114 Computer Software and Media Applications (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $25,986 Year 2: $28,598 Year 3: $31,143 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $91,122 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $42,967 Year 2: $55,964 Year 3: N/A Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $69,795 Year 2: $76,460 Year 3: N/A	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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