As college decisions roll around and students begin thinking about their classes, picking out the color scheme of their dorm, and finding new friends and roommates, it’s important to discuss the impacts and importance of one of the most significant details when deciding on a college: location. Students in general, apply to around 8 to 12 colleges with results being released anytime between October and April, and the sooner you decide, the better your chances of getting the dorm you want or the classes you want. Many students’ biggest component when deciding, is the rising out-of-state tuition price. While some willingly pay the higher fee in order to attend their dream school or gain more independence, others believe out-of-state tuition is not worth it.
Many people view going out of state for college as a money pool and do not see any benefits to it, but this statement could not be more wrong.
Although going out of state can be more expensive, you can do things to counter the expenses, like applying for scholarships, looking into state residency details, applying for federal student aid, and any other aid that is offered through the college individually. It is proven that scholarships can help make the cost of out-of-state tuition more affordable. On top of that, a majority of private schools do not charge different rates whether you live in-state or out-of-state.
Going out of state can give you new experiences and opportunities to grow yourself as an individual. It also allows you to gain a different type of independence that most in-state students do not have the opportunity to experience. Being independent helps you prepare for the future, as you learn to rely on yourself, and if you need support from others, you are left responsible for growing relationships that will help you achieve the support that you may need. When going out of state you could gain emotional growth that you would not experience when staying in the state.
When people go out of state they are forced to socialize and grow out of their bubbles since they most likely do not know anyone. The best way for people to do this is to join different groups and intramural sports teams. This also eliminates the possibility of being with the same people, who you may have grown up with, and allows you to shape new relationships which can help to shape you as a new person.
You also have to learn how to problem solve. Since you are away from home, you need to be able to deal with challenges like being sick, having a tough roommate, grocery shopping, or getting a bad grade on your own
Going out of state allows you to experience a different location and culture, and grow into a new community. This helps you broaden your perspectives, improve your social skills, build resilience, improve networking, and build new relationships.
Another reason why going out of state is beneficial is that it also gives many people more options for where to attend college. Some states like Alaska, Delaware and Montana don’t have many options for in-state students. There are only a total of 8 universities and colleges in the state of Alaska and Delaware and 16 colleges in Montana. These schools only offer a fixed number of programs, which could inhibit someone’s ability to pursue something they are passionate about. California, on the other hand, has 664 total institutions in their state.
An additional reason to leave is to get away from the cold. Michigan winters are very frigid and snowy and walking to class in -10-degree weather with snow blowing on your face is not something that many people enjoy. So when going out of state you can choose the environmental aspects that you most enjoy.
Another benefit is that students who move out of state have the opportunity to explore and experience different environments for four years. For example, if you grew up in a suburban area, you could try living in the city and see if it’s a lifestyle you enjoy.
Going out of state benefits you as a person in many different ways. Growing as an individual is the best thing that you can do for yourself. The four years of college are the best time to grow and change.
On the other hand, out-of-state college has many downsides that should be equally considered. The obvious one is cost. On average, the price of out-of-state tuition has increased by 3.2%. As of 2024, the average out of state cost for public four-year institutions ranges between $35,000 and $45,000. This means that within the four years a student is enrolled in their University, they are paying almost $200,000 for their education. As inflation increases, salaries fail to rise in response, resulting in college tuition becoming more demanding on families. While you can apply for scholarships, many have grown to be prestigious and have few slots available. Government funding can also help students with low household incomes but when it comes to middle-class families, the funding usually is not enough to provide ample support.
Tuition cost is not the only expense students and their families should take into consideration though. If a student from ELHS applies to a Florida school for example, not only do they have to pay a ludicrous amount, but they also have to worry about the flight payment in order to come home, or gas and toll payment if they choose to make the 14-24 hour drive. Driving home or even buying your own plane ticket is often not an option for freshmen given the increasing number of universities not permitting personal vehicles for underclassmen and many not having the financial means to afford plane tickets. Living on your own for the first time comes with enough difficulties but coupled with possibly not seeing your family for over 3-4 months can be extremely stressful.
Besides travel and overall tuition, dorm costs usually range from $10,000 to $15,000. This increases the overall cost of tuition by a large amount. Living in-state, especially if your hometown happens to be a college town, allows students the opportunity to save even more by living at home. After COVID, few colleges require freshmen to live on campus but those that do don’t require it throughout the entirety of their college experience. This can allow students to save nearly $60,000 which, in some institutions, is the equivalent of an extra year of education.
Moving away from the expense perspective, moving far from home can also have significant and in some cases, drastic, impacts on students. While moving can provide people with new perspectives, opportunities, and experiences, it can also be an extremely uncomfortable and overwhelming experience. Students going out of state will have to learn the location of all of their classes, places to eat, and discover areas to avoid within their new home. Not to mention having to change pharmacies, therapists, and if you have underlying medical conditions, even doctors. This can cause students to experience anxiety and stress that could be easily avoided by staying in a comfortable and familiar location.
Learning the location is already a stressful experience, but added to the distance from everyone and everything you have known for years can be painful and challenging. Students have to learn how to depend primarily on themselves, and if they begin to feel isolated, it is their responsibility to expand their friendships which for many suffering from social anxiety, can be nearly impossible. When school gets tough, it’s easy for students to feel alone leading to depression. In a study conducted by the University of Michigan, nearly 44% of college students reported to have experienced depressive symptoms and the distance from those you love and know, added to the stress of cost and moving can accumulate to have major impacts on one’s mental health.
