How should I compare the financial value of UMD and American University?

Start with the four-year net price, not either school’s sticker price: for Maryland residents, UMD will often have a substantial built-in price advantage because it is the state’s public flagship. American University can still be the less expensive option if its institutional grants close or exceed that gap. Treat grants and scholarships as the core comparison, while loans and work-study are ways of financing the cost rather than reductions in it.

Put both award letters into the same spreadsheet. List tuition and mandatory fees, housing and food, health insurance if applicable, books, transportation, and personal expenses. Then subtract only scholarships and grants you can reasonably expect to renew. Check each award’s renewal terms, including required enrollment status, GPA, annual renewal process, and whether the amount is fixed while tuition rises.

UMD and American also create different everyday cost patterns. College Park may mean lower housing and food costs than central Washington, D.C., depending on your living arrangement, while American’s D.C. location can reduce barriers to internships during the academic year. Include realistic travel home, local transit, and the likelihood of needing summer housing or unpaid internship support, rather than relying on each college’s estimated budget alone.

Compare borrowing separately: federal direct loans have clearer protections than private loans, and parent loans should be counted as family debt even if they are not in the student’s name. Estimate the total amount your family would need to borrow across four years, not just this year’s gap.

Finally, compare value within your intended field. Look at each program’s required coursework, access to faculty, internship pipelines, and typical early-career opportunities in your area of study. A modest price difference may be worth it for a program-specific advantage, but a large recurring annual gap is difficult to justify without a clear academic or career benefit.