We live in MD too. Myself and lots of people I know went to community colleges in this state and then transferred after finishing our two years (some got their AA). With your family income level, your daughter’s tuition likely will be covered by financial aid for the community colleges and also the final two years with the state flagship college, so don’t let her give up her dream because you just think your family may not be able to afford it. Ask people to help her fill out the financial aid package later this year (her HS high school counselor office should have this type of workshop around this time of the year). My daughter’s high school got someone from the MD state financial office to make a presentation on how to afford college in Maryland, and it has quite bit of good info. With some work-study program in the college and summer jobs, you daughter can really attend college with incurring much debt. Also some schools’ financial aid office may first deny the financial aid (or only fund partially) package, if you persist in going to the office showing your need, many times, the student would get full tuition covered.
Many of the community colleges in MD actually have agreement with state 4 year colleges for guarantee transfer if the students can keep their grade at certain level (probably 3.0). Again, this is just a backup plan, and your daughter still can apply first to see if she can get any merit scholarship from a 4 year university.
And yes, for us that went to the community college route and then transfer to the 4 year colleges, we ended up not very much from our peers who went straight to the 4 year colleges, some even were in the very top colleges.
By the way, being a full time student and and full time worker can also be done in MD. Community colleges like Montgomery College, Prince George’s Community College, Frederick Community College have lots of young adults attending evening classes (or attending day time classes and work evening shifts). UMUC (UMD’s sister school for working adults) have tons of good programs, and its top students usually find a well paid jobs after graduating.