How should I compare the affordability of UC San Diego and the University of Maryland as a nonresident?

For a nonresident, the University of Maryland will often have the lower published total cost than UC San Diego, but the decision should rest on the two schools’ official net-price estimates and final aid offers, not tuition alone. UC San Diego adds the University of California nonresident supplemental tuition charge to its base tuition and campus fees, which makes its nonresident price particularly high. Maryland’s out-of-state tuition is also substantial, but its overall sticker price can be lower before aid.

Compare the same living arrangement at both schools: on-campus housing and meal plan, or off-campus housing with a realistic local rent and food budget. UCSD’s San Diego location can make off-campus rent, transportation, and summer housing especially important, while Maryland’s published budget should be checked for the exact housing and dining option you would actually use. Include mandatory fees, books, travel home, personal expenses, and health insurance; UC San Diego’s student health plan is a meaningful line item unless you qualify to waive it.

For aid, treat federal grants, loans, and any outside scholarships as portable possibilities, but do not assume either public university will meet full financial need for nonresidents. California resident-focused programs do not erase UCSD’s nonresident tuition charge, and Maryland’s nonresident merit awards can help but are competitive and not guaranteed. Use each school’s current net price calculator, then compare only grants and scholarships, not loans or work-study, against the full cost of attendance.

Finally, project the net cost across four years. Ask whether a scholarship renews automatically, what GPA or enrollment requirements apply, whether tuition and housing can rise, and whether either award changes after the first year. The meaningful comparison is the four-year amount your family would pay after renewable gift aid, not the first-year headline award.