Anonymous wrote:When I visited with DD, neither of us found the campus appealing and we were told the campus is dead on weekends. Maryland really needs to build up their second tier universities (UMBC and Towson) Maryland- College Park is really their only non-suitcase school. If those two are the choices, Towson is more of a campus/traditional school while UMBC probably has better teaching (though Towson is fine too). Depends on the kid which they’d prefer- mine greatly prefers Towson, but is really hoping for UMD.🤞🏼

Many in state or nearby state students at UMCP go home too for various reasons.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does UMBC cost more or less than Towson? If your child is between those two choices, are you leaning either direction? It seems like Towson has more of a campus feel, but UMBC has an edge in STEM. Am I reading it correctly?

That information is readily available.

Not really. If you are comparing merit awards, like this thread is, it can dramatically change the out-of-pocket prices.

Kid got into both and got merit at both last year. Exact same merit from both schools (2k) and the final cost was $300 difference (tuition, housing, food.) At that point, it was about fit than price. DS chose Towson.

Thank you! Is your child happy at Towson?

Yes - he is a sophomore there. Freshman year was a challenge since a lot of kids do go home on the weekends and he is an introverted kid and didn't come home often. He did get more involved (intermural sport and club sport team) and met people in his dorm so he has made friends and seems happier. He likes that 'uptown' is close so he and his friends can easily walk there (he has a car on campus, but rarely drives except to come home about 1-2x/semester.)

It was a good fit for someone who needs instate tuition (and didn't get into UMD), didn't want a small school (St Marys), didn't want a rural school (Frostburg), wanted access to a city (Salisbury), and wanted to be able to walk places (UMBC.) It fit all of his boxes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does UMBC cost more or less than Towson? If your child is between those two choices, are you leaning either direction? It seems like Towson has more of a campus feel, but UMBC has an edge in STEM. Am I reading it correctly?

That information is readily available.

Not really. If you are comparing merit awards, like this thread is, it can dramatically change the out-of-pocket prices.

Kid got into both and got merit at both last year. Exact same merit from both schools (2k) and the final cost was $300 difference (tuition, housing, food.) At that point, it was about fit than price. DS chose Towson.

Thank you! Is your child happy at Towson?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does UMBC cost more or less than Towson? If your child is between those two choices, are you leaning either direction? It seems like Towson has more of a campus feel, but UMBC has an edge in STEM. Am I reading it correctly?

That information is readily available.

Not really. If you are comparing merit awards, like this thread is, it can dramatically change the out-of-pocket prices.

Kid got into both and got merit at both last year. Exact same merit from both schools (2k) and the final cost was $300 difference (tuition, housing, food.) At that point, it was about fit than price. DS chose Towson.