Money aside - for undergrad - which would be a better option in terms of academics and resources?
Money aside, Michigan. Programs are stronger across the board. What are you interested in studying?
Money aside, Michigan. However, most people cannot blithely ignore cost. At full pay, in-state v. OOS rates, you’re looking at more than a $30K/year price premium for a MD resident to attend Michigan.
That depends. You may get more individualized attention and research opportunities at UMD honors (which may or may not matter to you).
What are goals?
@CaliGW I’d agree with @wayneandgarth that Michigan is probably stronger overall. But it depends on what you want to study. Maryland, for example, is doing some work in cybersecurity that I’m not sure is matched at Michigan. And proximity to DC also helps. The START program (counterterrorism) is also pretty unusual.
But I’m not sure how that decision will go, even in my own household! D2 has been admitted to both (she’s waiting to hear about Honors at Michigan, merit aid at both, and admission/aid at several other schools). Absent merit aid, Maryland is still less expensive than Michigan (she’s OOS to both).
If one will result in graduating from college with loans and the other without, that’s worth serious attention.
Michigan > Maryland for academics and resources.
Michigan.
Michigan. But … curious minds want to know:
what does you mean by “money aside”? After all, you probably are doing this with career goals in mind. For example, I’d recommend Maryland honors if you were in-state for MD. But we don’t know here …
Thank you all for the responses and insight
And I am OOS for both schools
Can you indicate
- intended major
- (tuition, fees, room&board) - (scholarships, grants)=
for both - parents’ budget (without borrowing)
Have you considered the Honors program at Michigan?