UMBC doesn't have exercise science.

UMD: lists about $28K as COA
UMBC: Lists $31k as COA
Towson: lists just shy of $25k as COA

these all assume room and board

These are NOT cheaper than the VA schools I have looked at (that said, I am not looking at UVA, Tech or W&M)

these are the prices I am trying to find for my child, too ($25-30K)

There are a lot of options

DC is going to UMD, but I love UMBC. One of my older kids went there. This is an amazing school for nerdy STEM kids. Small classes, cozy campus, collaborative and supportive classmates.

I feel the most toxic, cut-throat and conniving students in HS go to the brand name schools and the sweetest kids go to UMBC. UMD is a mix bag of all sorts of kids because it is so big. Everyone finds their tribe but UMBC is just the most loving, nurturing and supportive enviornment. Every single friend of DC's from UMBC, I have adored. 8 years later, they still drop in and they all are still tight. All kids are in high paying, successful STEM careers.

There are other MD state schools besides UMD. I think the best thing you should do is provide your child an option for a debt free degree and definitely don't feel bad if you can't fund a $300K college education. Outside of UMD, I would think Towson is a great option if your child wants to study education and exercise. Quite a few kids in my neighborhood go there and seem to like it, and the off-campus housing in Towson is much less expensive than UMCP. UMBC is a great STEM school with great job placement record, but is a little bit of a commuter school. I know a few kids that went to Salisbury and studied business and did well (Frank Perdue gave a ton of money to the business school). St. Mary's is very small liberal arts college and a beautiful campus, but is very remote. I remember spending weekends in St. Marys for my kid's sports and having limited cell phone service. Another option would be to consider going to a community college for one year and then transferring to UMD. It is much easier to be admitted that way.

Anonymous wrote:I still think you are missing a huge swath of schools that WILL give significant merit aid for a 3.8 GPA and bring it to within a couple thousand (NOT $10k+ more) of in state. Maybe even cheaper than in state.

I'm hoping for my kid to graduate with a 3.0, and even I have found schools that give aid at that level.

At 3.5, your options open a ton more. And 3.8? Come on

Go talk to the school counselor or something. You are NOT stuck with just in state schools, I promise you

And not all private schools are insanely expensive. We have Springfield College, Rider and Shenandoah on a preliminary list, as well as a couple women's colleges (which doesn't help you, just saying)

Virginia has a fund that gives a little money for attending a private school in state - does MD have anything similar? That might help with someplace like Goucher

I honestly think you'll be pleasantly surprised at your options once you really get into the research

If you are in VA, the state schools are much more expensive than in MD so VA residents might get enough merit aid at a private school to bring total cost of attendance close to the in-state option, but that is unlikely in MD. Also, you have to consider OP's students are likely to get some merit aid at the MD in-state options like UMBC and St. Mary's. Also, unless the only goal is to go to school somewhere farther away, it doesn't much financial sense for someone with limited savings to choose a "lesser" school for even a little more $. (and don't forget that merit aid is typically only for 4 years so if it takes an extra semester to graduate, that is going to be full price...ouch!)

I still think you are missing a huge swath of schools that WILL give significant merit aid for a 3.8 GPA and bring it to within a couple thousand (NOT $10k+ more) of in state. Maybe even cheaper than in state.

I'm hoping for my kid to graduate with a 3.0, and even I have found schools that give aid at that level.

At 3.5, your options open a ton more. And 3.8? Come on

Go talk to the school counselor or something. You are NOT stuck with just in state schools, I promise you

And not all private schools are insanely expensive. We have Springfield College, Rider and Shenandoah on a preliminary list, as well as a couple women's colleges (which doesn't help you, just saying)

Virginia has a fund that gives a little money for attending a private school in state - does MD have anything similar? That might help with someplace like Goucher

I honestly think you'll be pleasantly surprised at your options once you really get into the research

Anonymous wrote:To answer OP's question, we were in a very similar situation. While both our kids got generous merit aid at private schools, it wasn't enough to bring the costs down to in-state levels. We had one kid who went to SMCM and one who went to UMD.

SMCM is unique and feels more like a private LAC than a public school. It is a lovely, beautiful place with great professors who really get to know the students. I would encourage you to at least take a visit before ruling it out.

UMD is fabulous and the opportunities are endless but because admission is so competitive I can understand why you want to consider other schools. The kid who went to UMD also considered UMBC and I was personally very impressed with the school and would have been thrilled it DC had chose to attend. FWIW, UMBC offered a good amount of merit aid that made it the most affordable option.

Thank you! One of my kids liked UMBC. I just worry that it is a commuter school and not enough to engage her on the weekends/evenings.

To answer OP's question, we were in a very similar situation. While both our kids got generous merit aid at private schools, it wasn't enough to bring the costs down to in-state levels. We had one kid who went to SMCM and one who went to UMD.

SMCM is unique and feels more like a private LAC than a public school. It is a lovely, beautiful place with great professors who really get to know the students. I would encourage you to at least take a visit before ruling it out.

UMD is fabulous and the opportunities are endless but because admission is so competitive I can understand why you want to consider other schools. The kid who went to UMD also considered UMBC and I was personally very impressed with the school and would have been thrilled it DC had chose to attend. FWIW, UMBC offered a good amount of merit aid that made it the most affordable option.

We were in the same position - in state being within our means. My DC, however desperately wanted to go elsewhere. They applied to schools where they were in the top 25% of applicants and got merit aid at a number of places. Enough merit aid at a few that made it within a few thousand dollars of the in-state option. So, with the 3.8 GPA, your kids will have other options.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should visit SMCM. We were impressed by the campus and professors. I guess it really is a hidden gem.

St Mary's is too rural and isolated for the majority of city kids. I would avoid personally.

Different strokes. My DD didn't want a big campus or be in a big city. St. Mary's is a good fit for her.

Anonymous wrote:You should visit SMCM. We were impressed by the campus and professors. I guess it really is a hidden gem.

St Mary's is too rural and isolated for the majority of city kids. I would avoid personally.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a professor at UMD and I have never even heard of SMCM. What the hell is that

Wow, a tenured professor who can't Google? And with that jerky attitude? I hope my UMD student doesn't get you as a professor.

SMCM = St. Mary's College of Maryland. It's an MD public although not part of the USM system.

https://www.smcm.edu/

You're welcome.

He/she didn't say they were tenured. My guess is just an adjunct.

Meant to add Washington College to that list.

I would definitely apply to UMCP, UMBC, Towson (they give good aid), Loyola, Salisbury for in state options.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are their anticipated majors?

Majors are undecided at this point with no real pull to anything yet

Yes - We can cash flow some. But we can't do 50k/year x 2 kids simultaneously. We are older parents so don't have many years to work post their college graduation (will be 66 when they graduate) and this HHI is relatively new to us so there hasn't been much saving.

Where do you get “$50 k per year” times two kids?? UMCP and Towson are both less than $30 for total COA.

50k for out of state schools. I know instate is less than 30k which is why I was asking about feedback for instate schools. I was just saying we can't afford OOS/private at 50k/year even with our cash flow.