Hello! I currently have been accepted into UMD Honors (my state school) and UCLA. I’m looking to pursue Computer Science, and I know UCLA is ranked like top 5 public universities for CS and UMD is number 15. I really want to go to UCLA because I feel like it is a target school for jobs/internships and what not. However, the cost for out of state is a ridiculous 40k a year tuition whereas UMD is 10k a year tuition for in state. The estimated cost of everything (tuition+housing+books+etc.) is 65k a year for UCLA and just about 20/25k for UMD. I will not be getting any aid as my parents make about 140k total per year combined. They do, thankfully, have about 57k saved up for me. They’ve said if I go to UMD they’d be willing to pay everything for me and I wouldn’t have to incur any debt. If I want to go to UCLA, however, I’ll have to take out huge loans and pay most of it myself. My question is: is going to UCLA worth it? I know it’s a better school than UMD, but is it 200k worth of debt better? I’m not even worried about being in LA or student life or whatever most people crave UCLA for (although I do want to have fun in college), I just know big tech companies and startups recruit heavily from UCLA and it’s a target school. Any advice is appreciated 
You will not lack opportunities for CS internships or jobs as an UMD student. At all.
Very comforting to hear lol thank you!!
- UMD is pretty awesome for CS.
- Was good enough for Sergey.
(I am not sure MIT, Stanford or Caltech are worth the extra 200k, UNLESS it’s pocket change to your family)
Yeah - this is a choice of stay home or leave…nothing else.
Even home, you will not be home. Save the $$ - unless you are extremely rich and have this big itch to be out west.
You as a student cannot take out more than $27K/4 years worth of loans. $5500 Freshman year, $6500 Sophomore, $7500 Junior and Senior year. Any amount beyond that would be up to your parents and their debt.
I think you have your answer.
I’ve worked in the DC area for decades, mostly Systems Engineering. You will not have any problem getting internships/Jobs, if you go to UMD.
CS is a ridiculously employable degree. You’ll be just fine going to UMD, I promise. No bachelors degree is worth $200,000 in student loans, no matter how prestigious it may be. In fact, UMD is a prestigious school for CS, and companies recruit there from all over the country. I went to a regional state university, and I had precisely zero problems finding an entry level job or other jobs to further my career. You’ll do great!
My daughter’s CS employer is based in Virginia; we”re in Southern California. She went to SUNY Buffalo and had her choice of jobs here in California.
Her HR division employs “new hires” through the Virginia corporate office. CS is very, very conducive to anywhere in the country.
When you’re done with your degree, apply to any CS company, and indicate that you want to be on the West Coast. At this point, the high-tech companies in SoCal, employ anyone who is breathing, and don’t care where you get your degree, as long as it’s in CS or engineering from an accredited university.
Even if your parents had zero dollars in income, UCLA would not have given you a dime of need based aid. The CA publics do not give need based aid to OOS students.
UMD is a terrific choice. Congratulations!
I actually didn’t know that thank you! I still would feel bad though putting all of that debt on my parents
No problem and best of luck. UMD is a great option.
Umd cs is a national powerhouse. Really don’t worry about it and enjoy!
UMD all the way!
Maryland is in a prime location, Washington DC.
UMD is not located IN Washington DC. It’s in Maryland. It’s about 30 minutes away by car…but you have to keep traffic in mind in normal times. But it’s close to DC…@Dr.CoolDude
This is not correct. DC metro line actually extends to UMD.
If you were to choose U.S. News as your source, UCLA would place 7th and UMD–CP 8th by this standard.
The metro line does take you to DC…it’s not a long ride. I was commenting about time distance by car.
Yes, it seems students use the Metro to get into DC frequently! Very convenient. Neighbor kid just graduated from UMD last spring, had internship w/DOJ undergrad that is now full time position. He really liked the easy transport to DC aspect of UMD and the proximity is advantageous.