Is the University of Maryland or Florida State University more affordable for college?

Residency is the biggest cost difference: Maryland residents receive a much lower rate at the University of Maryland, while Florida residents receive a much lower rate at Florida State. For a student paying nonresident tuition at both schools, FSU’s published tuition and total cost of attendance are typically lower than UMD’s. College Park also has a higher-cost location than Tallahassee, which can make off-campus housing, transportation, and everyday spending more expensive.

For a Maryland resident, UMD may be the more affordable option even though FSU can have a lower nonresident sticker price. UMD’s need-based aid and Maryland-focused scholarship programs are most relevant to in-state students, while nonresidents should not assume institutional aid will close the large tuition gap. Its meal plans and residence halls are not unusually cheap, so compare the actual housing assignment and dining requirement in each offer.

For a Florida resident, FSU is likely to be the lower-cost choice by a substantial margin. FSU offers merit and need-based aid to other students as well, but those awards are competitive and should be treated as uncertain until included in a financial-aid package.

The deciding number is the net cost shown in each school’s aid offer, after grants and scholarships, rather than the published tuition alone.