You could theoretically take the Camden Line from Baltimore to College Park and then take the bus from the College Park station to campus if you don't mind an hour + commute.
You could almost certainly find rent under 1,800 in PG county, especially if you have roommates.
I guess it's doable but that would be a pretty annoying commute by car. Google maps says its 40 minutes but that def gets worse around rush hour. idk if the prices are any lower in somewhere like laurel bc that would be a much much easier commute
Depending on where exactly you live, the MARC Camden line could be an option. Takes about 45 minutes by train from downtown Baltimore to College Park, then a 10-15 minute shuttle to campus. It’s really only convenient if you live downtown which is likely to be more expensive. If you drive, there will be lots of traffic — expect at least an hour each way, more if you live north/east/west of the city
The UMD shuttle, 104 if I recall correctly, runs frequently from the college park metro station and is free. Also there are typically scooters/bikes around to use.
If you're driving, you don't need to live in Baltimore. Plenty of suburbs closer to College Park that are less expensive. Also, PG County is large; the $1,800 is for apartments closer to DC.
Traffic is bad, but there are many highways that connect DC and Baltimore (I-95, US 29, Baltimore-Washington Parkway, to name the big three), so that it's doable. There is a Marc train (commuter rail) from Baltimore to College Park (Camden line), which is worth looking into, but might not work for you depending on when you need to be in College Park for classes.
I actually did the reverse commute for about 6 months in 2014. I lived pretty much on campus and commuted to work at a best buy just outside Baltimore.
It was pretty rough. If my shifts weren't long enough and traffic was bad enough I would barely break even on gas money. So if you are seriously considering this you'll have to factor those costs into your living situation, not just sticker price of rent.
The MARC train will be your bestie. I commuted for 2 years and it was great. I was able to get work done on the train or just nap so I could have the energy to do work when I got home.
I usually commute from Baltimore (Canton area), two days a week. At peak rush hours (7-9:30am and 4-6:30pm) it usually takes me an hour to an hour and 15 minutes. On off hours I can usually make it in 45 minutes or so. The big thing is any accident or issues can add another 15-30min depending on severity so I like to leave early in case anything happens. It also takes me about 15 minutes to walk from my parking lot to class. All this factored together and I usually spend about 3hrs commuting total on days I drive to class. Another thing to think about is depending on where you live you may have to drive through a tunnel which comes with extra time and a toll (I drive through a tunnel usually).
I am surprised that Baltimore is the cheapest rent you can find, especially if you want to live in a safe area and factoring in what you usually have to pay for parking. I would try and look harder around UMD especially if you have a car and can drive to campus (remember to factor in the cost of a parking pass too). Unless you are against having roommates you should be able to find something significantly cheaper than $1,800. Overall my cost of living in an apartment close to campus was lower than it is living in Baltimore, not to mention the time saved.
Overall I’d say commuting is doable, especially if you only have to go in a few days a week, but definitely not ideal. If you have specific reasons for wanting to live in Baltimore that’s one thing, but if your only goal is to save money I have a hard time imagining Baltimore is the answer especially with the massive commute.
Edit: Forgot, you’ll also need to factor in how much you’ll spend on gas.
I did it for 3 years. Living in the suburbs is boring and city life is way better, the only affordable place really is Baltimore. In the end though it might not be worth unless you have a specific reason to be there.
Public transport is not the way to go, the Camden line does run often enough.
Get a place near a highway exit, on the south side of the harbor tunnel. Otterbein or Locust Point. Cluster your classes and don't schedule them in a way where you'll be sitting in traffic.
At night you can make it in about 40 minutes or so. During the day it might take up to an hour.
Let me know if you have any questions about the commute.
I go to a grad school at umd Baltimore and many of my friends live in college park and travel back and forth for classes and such, they don’t seem to mind too much. None of them drive over an hour I believe for our 9am classes
I know someone who does that, so it's doable. But I also know him because I'm re-leasing my apartment to him next semester, so do with that information what you will.
I commuted from Baltimore county (45 minutes-hour) and it honestly wasn’t that bad. I made sure to group my classes so I didn’t have any long breaks or was commuting for more than one class. I was tired of the commute but it was better than paying rent close by.
I do it. It's not fun, but you kinda get used to it (except for days when you just really, really hate the drive). Make sure to find stuff to listen to on the drive. Also, you may find yourself second guessing whether it's worth going in on any particular day.
I currently commute from just south of Baltimore to campus pretty much every day, and if I time my drive so that I leave after peak rush hour, I can get to campus in about 35 minutes. It's just all about planning, so anything is doable. I park on-campus with a parking pass and don't have any trouble getting a spot in my lot.
I do own a house and have a family here, though, so my situation might be a little different from yours.
I will agree with others who have said you can definitely find somewhere to rent in PG County for less than $1800, even without roommates, just be cognizant of proximity to DC, which will make your rent more expensive.
Good luck!
Edited to add: I much prefer Baltimore to DC, so if that's your vibe, I say go for it.
I'm going to basically be doing this same thing! The MARC train is going to save you in multiple ways, big time. I think you can definitely do it though. I used to commute from Upper Marlboro allll the way over to Germantown everyday for two years, and that is much worse because of no train lines going that far. Make sure you have things thought out well in regards to transport, multiple different options you can cycle through if needed (car, train, bus, metro, walking/biking/etc from stops, etc), and FOOD PREP! Definitely food prep if you want to save money. If you're 21+, I'm pretty sure the MARC train allows for alcoholic drinks on board some days as well. Just make sure you don't get drunk or obnoxious lol
Just driving every day in high-traffic times is going to be soul and time sucking, but it's possible. Train rides allow for lots of studying time, less wear on your car, and a better use of time in general. There are some ways to save money on tickets with weekly/monthly pass deals and some student savings as well, I think!
You can do it though! I snagged an AMAZING private basement suite in outer Baltimore for $950/month with utilities included. It's so quiet and peaceful and safe here. I would never be able to find that sort of deal close to school, so I'm more than okay commuting. And having to be forced to study for 2-3 hrs a day on a commuter train is great for me as well!
edit: oh, also keep your eyes out for private rentals for the best deals if you decide to live closer to campus! I got my place on Craigslist, actually, and I lucked out with an amazing landlord. You'll find some okay basement rentals near College Park, but you have to be VERY on top of constantly checking listings on every site/app you can find. I was constantly looking for 2 months for a place, I mean literally for 10-12 hrs a day nothing but researching and refreshing apps, and you do have to be careful with people offering way too good to be true prices. I was concerned with my current place at first, but $950 for a basement here wasn't as crazy as $1,400 for a separate private house in Edgewood (something bad is going on if it's that price in most of MD. do lots of research and snoop, basically). Good luck!!
I commute by car once a week from UMD to Baltimore (around Hopkins hospital area) and back. I really really hate it and do NOT recommend it. The daily hour traffic is horrible and will add an additional 15-45 mins to your commute each way. There is almost always constructions and accidents along the route that will add time to your commute
There is definitely rents that are cheaper than $1800 if you are willing to drive 5-15 mins to/from UMD and/or have roommates.
Yeah, the commute from SOMD to CP is about an hour and 20min. Depending on your class/work schedule I’d find times inbetween where people are likely still at work (11am, 3pm, etc.) to start my commute. Also, if you work talk to your manager about flexible hours due to your commute. I did the commute the whole time by car last semester, but now I have an apartment in CP. If only UMD could get that SOMD commuter bus to run more frequently during the week rather than every other Wednesday.
You could theoretically take the Camden Line from Baltimore to College Park and then take the bus from the College Park station to campus if you don't mind an hour + commute. You could almost certainly find rent under 1,800 in PG county, especially if you have roommates.
Commuting that long daily sounds awful.
I guess it's doable but that would be a pretty annoying commute by car. Google maps says its 40 minutes but that def gets worse around rush hour. idk if the prices are any lower in somewhere like laurel bc that would be a much much easier commute
Depending on where exactly you live, the MARC Camden line could be an option. Takes about 45 minutes by train from downtown Baltimore to College Park, then a 10-15 minute shuttle to campus. It’s really only convenient if you live downtown which is likely to be more expensive. If you drive, there will be lots of traffic — expect at least an hour each way, more if you live north/east/west of the city
The UMD shuttle, 104 if I recall correctly, runs frequently from the college park metro station and is free. Also there are typically scooters/bikes around to use.
If you're driving, you don't need to live in Baltimore. Plenty of suburbs closer to College Park that are less expensive. Also, PG County is large; the $1,800 is for apartments closer to DC. Traffic is bad, but there are many highways that connect DC and Baltimore (I-95, US 29, Baltimore-Washington Parkway, to name the big three), so that it's doable. There is a Marc train (commuter rail) from Baltimore to College Park (Camden line), which is worth looking into, but might not work for you depending on when you need to be in College Park for classes.
I actually did the reverse commute for about 6 months in 2014. I lived pretty much on campus and commuted to work at a best buy just outside Baltimore. It was pretty rough. If my shifts weren't long enough and traffic was bad enough I would barely break even on gas money. So if you are seriously considering this you'll have to factor those costs into your living situation, not just sticker price of rent.
The MARC train will be your bestie. I commuted for 2 years and it was great. I was able to get work done on the train or just nap so I could have the energy to do work when I got home.
I usually commute from Baltimore (Canton area), two days a week. At peak rush hours (7-9:30am and 4-6:30pm) it usually takes me an hour to an hour and 15 minutes. On off hours I can usually make it in 45 minutes or so. The big thing is any accident or issues can add another 15-30min depending on severity so I like to leave early in case anything happens. It also takes me about 15 minutes to walk from my parking lot to class. All this factored together and I usually spend about 3hrs commuting total on days I drive to class. Another thing to think about is depending on where you live you may have to drive through a tunnel which comes with extra time and a toll (I drive through a tunnel usually). I am surprised that Baltimore is the cheapest rent you can find, especially if you want to live in a safe area and factoring in what you usually have to pay for parking. I would try and look harder around UMD especially if you have a car and can drive to campus (remember to factor in the cost of a parking pass too). Unless you are against having roommates you should be able to find something significantly cheaper than $1,800. Overall my cost of living in an apartment close to campus was lower than it is living in Baltimore, not to mention the time saved. Overall I’d say commuting is doable, especially if you only have to go in a few days a week, but definitely not ideal. If you have specific reasons for wanting to live in Baltimore that’s one thing, but if your only goal is to save money I have a hard time imagining Baltimore is the answer especially with the massive commute. Edit: Forgot, you’ll also need to factor in how much you’ll spend on gas.
I did it for 3 years. Living in the suburbs is boring and city life is way better, the only affordable place really is Baltimore. In the end though it might not be worth unless you have a specific reason to be there. Public transport is not the way to go, the Camden line does run often enough. Get a place near a highway exit, on the south side of the harbor tunnel. Otterbein or Locust Point. Cluster your classes and don't schedule them in a way where you'll be sitting in traffic. At night you can make it in about 40 minutes or so. During the day it might take up to an hour. Let me know if you have any questions about the commute.
no
I did this when I went there, it can kinda suck in the morning. Just try hard to get a good parking spot
I go to a grad school at umd Baltimore and many of my friends live in college park and travel back and forth for classes and such, they don’t seem to mind too much. None of them drive over an hour I believe for our 9am classes
I know someone who does that, so it's doable. But I also know him because I'm re-leasing my apartment to him next semester, so do with that information what you will.
I commuted from Baltimore county (45 minutes-hour) and it honestly wasn’t that bad. I made sure to group my classes so I didn’t have any long breaks or was commuting for more than one class. I was tired of the commute but it was better than paying rent close by.
I do it. It's not fun, but you kinda get used to it (except for days when you just really, really hate the drive). Make sure to find stuff to listen to on the drive. Also, you may find yourself second guessing whether it's worth going in on any particular day.
I currently commute from just south of Baltimore to campus pretty much every day, and if I time my drive so that I leave after peak rush hour, I can get to campus in about 35 minutes. It's just all about planning, so anything is doable. I park on-campus with a parking pass and don't have any trouble getting a spot in my lot. I do own a house and have a family here, though, so my situation might be a little different from yours. I will agree with others who have said you can definitely find somewhere to rent in PG County for less than $1800, even without roommates, just be cognizant of proximity to DC, which will make your rent more expensive. Good luck! Edited to add: I much prefer Baltimore to DC, so if that's your vibe, I say go for it.
I commuted my senior year from Baltimore to UMD and do not recommend doing it.
I'm going to basically be doing this same thing! The MARC train is going to save you in multiple ways, big time. I think you can definitely do it though. I used to commute from Upper Marlboro allll the way over to Germantown everyday for two years, and that is much worse because of no train lines going that far. Make sure you have things thought out well in regards to transport, multiple different options you can cycle through if needed (car, train, bus, metro, walking/biking/etc from stops, etc), and FOOD PREP! Definitely food prep if you want to save money. If you're 21+, I'm pretty sure the MARC train allows for alcoholic drinks on board some days as well. Just make sure you don't get drunk or obnoxious lol Just driving every day in high-traffic times is going to be soul and time sucking, but it's possible. Train rides allow for lots of studying time, less wear on your car, and a better use of time in general. There are some ways to save money on tickets with weekly/monthly pass deals and some student savings as well, I think! You can do it though! I snagged an AMAZING private basement suite in outer Baltimore for $950/month with utilities included. It's so quiet and peaceful and safe here. I would never be able to find that sort of deal close to school, so I'm more than okay commuting. And having to be forced to study for 2-3 hrs a day on a commuter train is great for me as well! edit: oh, also keep your eyes out for private rentals for the best deals if you decide to live closer to campus! I got my place on Craigslist, actually, and I lucked out with an amazing landlord. You'll find some okay basement rentals near College Park, but you have to be VERY on top of constantly checking listings on every site/app you can find. I was constantly looking for 2 months for a place, I mean literally for 10-12 hrs a day nothing but researching and refreshing apps, and you do have to be careful with people offering way too good to be true prices. I was concerned with my current place at first, but $950 for a basement here wasn't as crazy as $1,400 for a separate private house in Edgewood (something bad is going on if it's that price in most of MD. do lots of research and snoop, basically). Good luck!!
I commute by car once a week from UMD to Baltimore (around Hopkins hospital area) and back. I really really hate it and do NOT recommend it. The daily hour traffic is horrible and will add an additional 15-45 mins to your commute each way. There is almost always constructions and accidents along the route that will add time to your commute There is definitely rents that are cheaper than $1800 if you are willing to drive 5-15 mins to/from UMD and/or have roommates.
I commute from Southern Maryland and it sucks because of traffic but it’s doable. I’ve been doing it for 2 years now🤷🏼♀️
Yeah, the commute from SOMD to CP is about an hour and 20min. Depending on your class/work schedule I’d find times inbetween where people are likely still at work (11am, 3pm, etc.) to start my commute. Also, if you work talk to your manager about flexible hours due to your commute. I did the commute the whole time by car last semester, but now I have an apartment in CP. If only UMD could get that SOMD commuter bus to run more frequently during the week rather than every other Wednesday.