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.
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.
