April 13, 2026 - Money Guide

The University of Maryland’s Independent Student Newspaper

THE DIAMONDBACK money guide

spring 2026

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Katherine Schutzman

Sanya Wason

Clare Roth

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Here’s how UMD students are adapting to increasing prices

By Johana Gonzalez-Cruz I Staff writer

As she prepares for graduation, University of Maryland senior Jordan Bass has had to begin saving more to pay for her expenses.

She said she’s prioritized funds for necessities, while putting things like new clothes or trips on the back burner.

“I’m about to graduate, so I kind of have to be grown-up a little bit, especially paying for real-world stuff,” the family health major said.

Bass is one of the many students at the university consciously budgeting as national prices have increased in the past months.

As costs continue to rise for many everyday items, from gasoline to groceries, here’s what you need to know.

What’s increasing costs?

The increase in tariffs has cost the average American household around $1,200 since President Donald Trump’s return to office last year, the Associated Press reported in December.

The average price for a gallon of gas in the U.S., as of April 2, has increased to more than $4 a gallon.

Prices have steadily risen since the war in Iran began, which started on Feb. 28 after the U.S. and

Israel killed Iran’s supreme leader. Since then, gas prices have been about a dollar higher on average. As of April 6, the average price for regular gas in Maryland is $4.09 a gallon.

Due to disruptions in the supply chain and cuts from major oil producers, the cost of crude oil, a main ingredient in gasoline, is now at more than $100 per barrel.

The increase in gas prices could also affect the cost of groceries, according to the Associated Press, as processing and transporting food require high amounts of energy. The Trump Administration has responded to economic struggles by pushing a 10 percent cap on credit card interest rates and suspending tariffs on imported goods such as coffee and pasta, the news agency reported in January.

How are students handling rising prices?

As costs rise, some students are adjusting their spending habits and setting specific priorities.

Sophomore criminal justice major Maya Wright has prioritized eating at the dining halls to help offset other expenses, such as planned trips.

“I made a goal, because for spring break I was

[going to go on] a trip,” Wright said. “So I was like, ‘You know what? I’m going to save my money and prioritize this trip and put money aside for that.’”

In order to maintain a balance between spending and living her usual lifestyle, Wright has focused on planning out her expenses. She said she tries to plan cheaper activities and take every cost into account.

“Let’s plan what we’re doing, where we’re going, where we’re eating, everything,” Wright said.

Sophomore Sophia Weise has adjusted her spending habits by shopping at more affordable grocery stores like Lidl, cutting down on clothing purchases and limiting her spending as a whole.

Out of fear of not having money, the communication major said she has turned down plans to go out with friends, which has sometimes made her feel like she is missing out. She encourages students to find a job on campus to help them budget.

“That would make things a lot easier, to not just have a bunch of money that is just going away,” Weise said. “But also [to] spend what you want with the money that you’ve earned.”

UMD SGA hopes new free SmarTrip card program lessens students’ transportation costs

The University of Maryland SGA plans to purchase 150 preloaded SmarTrip cards to distribute to university students and faculty for use within the Washington, D.C., area.

An act to introduce the free Metro card program, which passed 21-0-1 on Feb. 4, stated that the Student Government Association will allocate $6,930 to purchase 90 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority SmarTrip cards, each preloaded with $75. Funds from the executive and cabinet reserves will go toward an additional 60 cards, bringing the total to 150, according to SGA president Dhruvak Mirani.

SmarTrip cards can be used to pay for Metrorail and Metrobus fares, as well as for Metro-operated parking lots, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority website.

To purchase the cards, SGA first needs approval from this university’s Student Organization Research Center, according to transportation and infrastructure co-director Shubh Agnihotri. He said he intended to meet with SORC representatives and SGA’s finance department on Feb. 9 to secure the desired spending approval.

The cards would be distributed to faculty and students at this university on a first come, first served basis, according to the act. SGA will post a Google Form to its social media for those interested in receiving a card, said Agnihotri, a sophomore electrical engineering major.

Students and staff are eligible for a free SmarTrip card

By Katherine Schutzman | Deputynewseditor

with a “valid academic, professional, intellectual, or social justification,” according to the act.

Agnihotri said he hopes this program will be a stepping stone to this university eventually implementing the WMATA U-Pass program, which allows students unlimited Metro access at a discounted rate. Several nearby universities, including American University, George Washington University and Bay Atlantic University participate in the U-Pass program.

This university’s Department of Transportation Services previously expressed concerns that implementing the U-Pass program would cause an increase in student fees because students would not be able to opt out of the program, The Diamondback reported. This university and DOTS declined to comment on the act passed by SGA on Feb. 4.

“There’s a lot of opposition from administration to implementing new mandatory fees that they see as not something a lot of people use on campus,” Agnihotri said.

Hasan Islam, the act’s sponsor, said passing this act is an opportunity for SGA to improve its reputation among students.

Presently, many people consider the government to be a negative entity, the religions of the ancient Middle East major said. Introducing a program that would majorly benefit undergraduates would show students what SGA can do for them, he added.

Once the trial SmarTrip cards are distributed, Agnihotri said SGA intends to record user information and card activity to collect anonymous data about when and where the cards are used.

“If we can really collect authentic student voices of people who benefit from this kind of program, we have a much stronger case to make to the administration in the future about what this would do for UMD students,” Mirani said.

Agnihotri said he hopes tracking the distributed cards will show frequent use and prove to this university that the U-Pass program would be worth the cost to students.

“There are a lot of students who want to take part in professional opportunities in D.C. … and right now it is a financial barrier to some students,” the senior computer science and international relations major said. “It really does add up pretty quickly, those trips back and forth.”

Mirani said the eventual implementation of the U-Pass program at this university would reduce the financial barrier to students looking for regular Washington, D.C., access. He also added that the program would allow city access to become second nature for students and reduce barriers that he believes exist in preventing this university from being a “D.C.-area school.”

The current proposal only guarantees one year of the program. If it were to continue, new SmarTrip cards would be purchased and redistributed each year.

UMD students grapple with bleak job market

By Sanya Wason I Staff writer

Recent college graduates include 22-27-year-olds with a bachelor’s degree or higher. All college graduates are those aged 22-65-years-old with at least a bachelor’s degree. Source: New York Federal Reserve (By

University of Maryland senior Nihaar Eppe has applied for between 80 and 100 jobs this year alone.

“It’s tedious, just a lot of applying,” the computer science major said. “I know there has been positions open, but I feel like for people with no experience at least, it’s definitely been harder.”

Eppe is just one of many feeling the pressure of scarce job opportunities and finding an ideal place to work.

The unemployment rate of recent college graduates has increased since 2024, leaving 5.6 percent of recent college graduates without a job nationwide, according to December 2025 data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. In January 2024, the unemployment rate for recent college graduates was 4.4 percent.

The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in Maryland was 4.2 percent in December, the Maryland Department of Labor website read.

Many factors affect the state of the job market, including technology, federal and state policy changes, higher education developments and industry trends.

Recent federal policy changes are one of the drivers pushing more people into the job market, Hardeep Chowdhary, the career services and alumni relations coordinator in the public policy school, told The Diamondback.

He also explained that while companies’ use of artificial intelligence may contribute to a decline of available jobs, federal policy changes have had greater impacts on the state of the job market.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s move to thin the federal government cost Maryland nearly 25,000 federal jobs in 2025, according to a January news release from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s office. Federal jobs represent 6 percent of Maryland’s total employment, according to the Maryland

comptroller’s January report.

Chowdhary said he previously focused a lot on helping students get jobs in the federal government. With the recent changes made to the federal hiring landscape, some students have been forced to pivot.

“We need to be aware of the circumstances that we are in and how to navigate those,” he said. “Generally speaking, the job search is going to take a little longer than it has in years past.”

University president Darryll Pines told The Diamondback on March 26 that while AI has an impact on the job market, there are other larger factors that play into the state of unemployment.

“The region has lost a lot of federal jobs and any dropout [in the job market] can’t be just attributed to technology,” he said.

Freshman cell biology and genetics major Maria Rezaee said she is worried about the rise in AI in her field. Based on her observations of her peers, she feels the job market is getting more competitive and less rewarding.

“[It makes me feel] kind of discouraged,” she told The Diamondback. “[Because] like, why am I here?”

Rezaee said despite feeling supported by her professors, she finds herself rethinking her career path as AI continues to improve.

“I chose [this major] because it has a good future, like a lot of jobs,” she said. “But now, slowly, AI is taking over.”

The freshman finds herself worrying about the future of the job market and what state it may be in when she graduates in three years.

Amy McLaughlin, an academic advisor and lecturer for this university’s sociology department, told The Diamondback that she has had more students seek counseling

about their worries related to finding employment than they have previously.

“As they are graduating, seniors feel more stress about going into the job market,” McLaughlin said. “I worry for mental health and for students just to be able to have hope.”

Chowdhary experienced something similar, stating that he has to remind students that they “have a lot of talent” and that “the hiring market is something that we cannot control.”

Senior journalism major Koree Perry said the limited job opportunities have added even more stress for students who already feel pressure over entering the job market for the first time.

But Perry, despite being discouraged by the lack of available jobs, is still pushing through the application process.

“What else am I going to do if I don’t try again?” Perry said. “But even still, it hurts. … I’m scared.”

Deputy managing editor Sam Gauntt interviewed university president Darryll Pines for this story.

how to save on subscriptions using student discounts

By Stella Garner I Tabloids editor

When the price tag keeps rising on necessities, cut costs in your free time with these student discounts. It’s a hard time to be a college student. With dramatic increases in the price of necessities like gas and groceries and no end in sight, it can be difficult to find places to tighten your budget while making time for entertainment. Luckily, many streaming services and platforms offer discounts. Here are a few of the best discounts available.

Xfinity on Campus

On-campus students automatically have access to Xfinity’s streaming app through this university, which features popular shows and movies like The Pitt, One Battle After Another and Top Gun: Maverick. Off-campus students aren’t included in the deal — but HBO Max, which is offered through the Xfinity app, has a 50 percent discount for all students through the student discount service UNiDAYS.

Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe is one of the most well-established and popular software developers on the market, with popular programs supporting photo and video editing, website building and stock images. As such, it usually comes with a hefty cost — but for students at this university, it’s completely free. By creating a student account on the Creative Cloud app, students can access Adobe Photoshop, Firefly, Audition, Animate and more for no monthly cost.

Regal and AMC

Many students dismiss moviegoing as a pricey pastime — but it doesn’t have to be. Both Regal and AMC operate theaters with student discounts in Hyattsville, Silver Spring, Greenbelt and Beltsville. Just be sure to check the location’s discount information and bring your student ID to the box office.

Amazon Prime

Save on deliveries with Amazon’s Prime for Young Adults plan, which includes waived shipping fees and 5 percent daily cashback on select purchases. At $7.49, the plan is half the price of a typical Prime subscription and includes access to Prime Video streaming services and discounts on delivery fees for GrubHub+. It’s worth noting that the offer is based on age rather than student status, so anyone outside the ages of 18 to 24 is ineligible — sorry, post-grads.

umd community members face higher gas prices due to iran war

By Clare Roth I Staff writer

University of Maryland community members’ wallets are feeling the effects of the war in Iran as gas prices in the United States continue to rise.

As of April 6, the national average cost of gas was about $4.12 a gallon, according to AAA. In Maryland, gas costs an average of $4.08 per gallon.

In March, a gallon of regular gas cost an average of $3.32 in the state, AAA’s website states. This represents an increase of about 21 percent since the beginning of March.

This extreme rise can be attributed to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the area connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. About 20 percent of the oil consumed globally flows through the strait, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

University of Maryland history professor Peter Wien, who specializes in the Middle East, said that closing the strait is the only real tactic at Iran’s disposal to hurt the U.S. and Israel. The closure has caused unprecedented destabilization of the entire region, he explained.

Many commuter students, like sophomore criminal justice major Raquel Torres, feel frustrated by the increase.

Torres already works as much as she can, she said, living paycheck to paycheck to pay for her tuition. She worries about how she’ll have to reconfigure her finances in order to accommodate higher gas prices.

Torres used to drive home for lunch sometimes because she lives close to campus, but now she’s more hesitant to make the extra drive.

“I’m kind of needing to find alternatives and just staying on campus rather than driving back home so I don’t waste that gas,” Torres said.

Associate clinical business professor Michael McMillan said that drivers can mitigate the cost increase by reducing how much they spend on going out to eat, entertainment and new clothes. This way, drivers can instead reallocate those funds toward gas.

Sophomore English major Cyrilla Truong has done just that and is now more mindful of her spending habits, she said.

“I’m just cutting down on all the little things that could add up,” Truong explained.

McMillan said the increase in gas prices causes a ricochet effect on many aspects of the economy. Beyond gasoline, costs are rising in other industries, including restaurants, farming, shipping, travel and even potentially the housing market. While cost increases impact everyone, low-income people are going to feel the effects of this rise “much worse” than middleincome or wealthy individuals, he said.

Even if the war ends tomorrow, Americans will still be impacted by these effects for a long time as businesses increase their prices, McMillan explained.

Today’s shortage is nothing new to McMillan.

He grew up during the energy shortage of the 1970s, when gas was rationed. He said that time always stuck with him and led him to be hyperaware of gas mileage and cost.

Like many others, McMillan is annoyed by surging prices. He feels that the sacrifice is unjustified and

that drivers like him have not done anything to deserve skyrocketing prices.

Junior economics and finance major Alexander Price also commutes to campus and has had to work slightly more to cover the higher costs of gas.

Price said he has also begun filling up with his mom’s Sam’s Club card, which allows him to purchase gas at a lower price. But he still said he is paying about $15 more to fill his tank than he used to.

“I mean it’s crazy,” Price said. “I’ll just kind of go out of my way, you know, if I have time to kind of see how those gas stations compare to the ones I’d normally drive past, see if they’re generally cheaper, then I start going to those.”

This is the first time since the start of the RussiaUkraine War in 2022 that gas has cost more than four dollars per gallon, according to AAA.

“I think people were a little bit more tolerant with the increase in oil prices because of the war in Ukraine, but they’re not as tolerant for this war, because most people don’t understand why we’re in it and when it’s going to end,” McMillan said.

McMillan hopes that rising gas prices will lead drivers to change their behavior and transition to using public transportation more frequently.

“One of the positive things from this is that research has shown when gasoline prices have risen enough for a longer period of time, it does change people’s behavior, meaning it results in people driving less overall,”

McMillan said. “If anything, that’ll be the benefit from this.”