Deciding between UMD and UD

College Search & Selection
,
1

I have been accepted to several colleges, and I did not immediately pick a favorite because I was hoping that I could become a Princeton Tiger. Unfortunately, that did not happen, so now I only have a few options that are financially viable: University of Maryland College Park, University of Delaware, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

UMD has always been the school I expected myself to go to. My role model cousin, uncle, and grandfather all went there, its my state’s staple school, its one of the top engineering schools in the country, etc. They are also very affordable for me, and accepted me to the Honors College.

UD was a school I was recommended to consider by my guidance counselor. I wasn’t expecting to like it so much, but when I met the ECE department chair and other professors and students, I felt comfortable and confident that I could gain quite the education. It is less affordable, and also accepted me to the Honors College.

I have never visited Rose-Hulman, but a close friend of mine introduced me to the institution. They seem to be incredibly focused on undergraduate education and research, and they are giving me quite a bit of money, making them more affordable than UD, less affordable than UMD.

Now, the affordability has been affected by my receipt of the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship. This is a concern though, since UD has stated that it can rescind some need based aid if a scholarship is given, which may actually make them unaffordable, while it does not seem that Rose-Hulman or UMD can rescind my need based aid.

Now here is some information about me that may help to affect my decisions:

  • I am a Computer Engineering Student
  • I would like to pursue interests in Machine Learning and Cyber Security
  • UMD’s total cost estimate is $40,000
  • UD’s total cost estimate is $84,000
  • Rose-Hulman’s total cost estimate is $70,000
  • All estimates include my scholarships, and assume that none of my aid will by eliminated by the Future Engineer Scholarship, and do not include being an RA or winning other scholarships
  • I should be able to skip Calc 1 and 2, and Physics 101 with AP credits at most of these schools

Most of what I read says that UD or UMD are my best options for price, that I can renegotiate with UD for a better price, or be an RA at any of the schools, and that I could receive better education and research opportunities at UMD, but be happier and take better advantage of the fewer opportunities at UD.

Any advice would be really appreciated, especially considering the short time frame before decision day.

P.S. Hope everyone reading this is safe and healthy during these trying times! Thanks again!

1 Like
2

You need to verify the details of the aid at all three places. It is entirely possible that the external scholarship will mean that you have no need, and so won’t qualify for any need-based aid. You need to find out if they will stack this scholarship or not.

3

Scholarships can reduce financial aid depending on college policy.

The state of Maryland did prohibit “scholarship displacement”, according to https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/maryland-overrules-scholarship-displacement-big-win-for-students , so UMD should not reduce FA grants unless the total grants + scholarships exceeds the cost of attendance.

RHIT says at https://www.rose-hulman.edu/admissions-and-aid/financial-aid/financial-aid-basics/understanding-financial-aid/how-financial-aid-is-awarded.html

[QUOTE=Rose Hulman Institute of Technology]
Students may seek scholarships from private sources, such as ROTC. According to federal regulations and RHIT policies, these must be considered among the student’s financial resources when eligibility for need-based aid is determined. They will improve your overall aid package.
In general, if you receive outside aid, it will be applied first against any cost not accounted for in your financial aid package (i.e., the gap, if one exists, between the cost of attendance and EFC, plus the financial aid offered).
Next, it will reduce your loan or work study awards, reducing the funds you must borrow or earn by working. Only if all loan and work study awards have been replaced by scholarships or other resources will your grant aid be reduced./quote
In other words, at RHIT, your outside scholarship reduces your net price up to the sum of unmet need + student loan + work study, but then reduces FA grants. Only if the outside scholarship exceeds the sum of unmet need + student loan + work study + FA grants will it further reduce net price. This type of policy is fairly common, but not universal.

Delaware does not seem to mention what its policy is at https://www.udel.edu/students/student-financial-services/undergraduate/#scholarships . So ask directly.

The other thing is, how much of the net price must be borrowed?

4

I am not exactly certain, as my grandparents have been keeping a 529 or similar plan for me since birth, which they tell me can handle at least a year of college, so I would expect that we can directly handle $60,000 between my parent’s, grandparents, and myself, leaving nothing to be borrowed from UMD, and a little from UD and RHIT

5

I would go with UMD were I in your position.

1 Like
6

I see no reason to go for a more pricey school when you have a great in-state option. If you were going for Chem E then UD Might be a good choice. I would head to your family’s alma mater.

1 Like