We moved to VA right before our older kid started K because the available after-school care in our assigned MCPS school closed too early. A shorter commute was also welcomed (we moved from Rockville to Falls Church). College options were at the back of our mind when choosing VA over a different location in MD.

Older DC went to an OOS public (did not apply to VA schools). Younger DC chose JMU over UMD because it was a better fit for his major and so much cheaper even with a UMD scholarship (he didnt apply to UVA, WM or VT).

I might add, wait long enough to do this until you are sure you will still be in Virginia as college years approach. I had a friend who did this, upheaving their whole lives to move to Arlington, and then two years later, her husband was transferred to Georgia. The whole endeavor ended up being an expensive, unsettling blip.

Move if you like VA better but don’t do it for college. Look at neighborhoods, commute and where you want them to grow up.

We live in VA and my oldest didn’t apply to any VA colleges. He’s going to a small school in a different state that ended up costing us roughly the same as in state VA tuition would have been.

Our next kid is in HS and might apply to 1-2 but is already saying they are not her top choice because none are the best fit for what she wants in a college.

You have no idea what your kids will be like in 12 years.

I wish we would’ve lived in va instead md. If you’re white from moco you need outstanding stats to get in umd. If you’re not white you should be in staying in md.

I just would not move for four year college-especially since you have no idea whether your child will go to one of those schools are not.

Neither of my kids went to in-state schools and they both paid about the same rate getting merit at other schools so there are lots of options

If you don't have deep roots in MD (church/synagogue, local sports teams, etc) then yes, I would move. I also find the weekends more relaxing in suburban VA with less traffic than DC or Maryland.

Yes do it for better/stronger college options in VA. But also for far better infrastructure, economic growth and stability. Beware - whether VA or MD, don't buy in a county that starts with Prince. And keep in mind UVA, W&M, and such will only take so many from each HS.

FWIW we did this when our twins were in junior high and I ended up regretting it. Daughter got into UVA, which was great, so we’ll save $160k with in-state tuition. But our son decided he needed a gap year and moved to the Pacific Northwest for a volunteer program; his plan is to stay out there and gain residency for a Washington school. Meanwhile, I liked our Maryland house and locale better, and since the VA one cost $240k more, we’re not even financially coming out ahead and I miss my old neighborhood.

we chose the MD route largely because of commute/better house prices (we were looking right as HQ2 was being built and close in VA was insanely overpriced).

Now with two kids looking at private colleges I wish we had chosen VA. UMD CP is great for engineering or policy. but MD doesn't have as many strong options for liberal arts.

I think Virginia has better options below UVA/WM than Maryland has below UMD.

But if it will make your commute horrible, don’t do it too soon. Driving across the bridge twice a day, ugh.

It was our primary factor in deciding where in the DMV to move, and it paid huge dividends. Two went to UVA and another to another solid VA school (think JMU, VCU, etc.) A fourth did go out of state to a private college, but only after getting lots of merit aid. Otherwise he had a W&M admit in his pocket and would have happily gone there.

To us it was a no-brainer. I mean, a suburb is a suburb, right? Arlington and Fairfax County are interchangeable with Montgomery.

I wouldn't do it just for colleges. If there are other compelling reasons then it is a factor, but should not be driving the decision.

That being said, the VA options definitely are a lot better. Still impossible to unlearn my 1990s mentality when my friends with 1100 SATs were easily getting into Maryland out of state.

Anonymous wrote:You have to do it a few years before she graduates.

Yep, that’s why we’re talking about it now. Because she won’t graduate for…12 more years .

You have to do it a few years before she graduates.

We currently live in Maryland with one young elementary school-aged daughter. She’s still years off from college, obviously, but we have started to talk about the fact that University of Maryland seems like our only nationally-acclaimed public university option—while Virginia has UVA, VTech, W&M, etc, each with its own personality and vibe. Is it worth it to consider moving now to expand our daughter’s college options later? I’m interested in hearing from anyone who has done this, or considered it, and how you felt about it. Did your kid end up choosing a Virginia university? Or did you make the move only for them to end up at a liberal arts college out of state, etc.?