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What are the pros and cons of going to college out of state?
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Doc’s Answer
Zemir the cost differences between in-state and out-of-state colleges can determine your college application process. When tuition, fees, and additional expenses like housing are factored in, out-of-state students tend to spend thousands more each semester than in-state students. In fact, the average cost is more than $10,000 more annually for out-of-state students.
COLLEGE COSTS FOR IN-STATE VS. OUT-OF-STATE
According to CollegeBoard, the average cost for a year of out-of-state tuition and fees is $23,890 annually, while the average cost of in-state tuition is $9,410. This is where the estimated gap of $10,000 comes from. Many public state schools are funded by local taxpayers. This means parents and kids who work before entering college essentially pay to keep the university open each year before they enroll. Out-of-state students don’t pay taxes to that state, which means they aren’t entitled to the benefits of reduced costs.
ADDITIONAL COSTS TO CONSIDER
Even if you think you can afford an in-state school, there are additional costs to consider before you apply. For example, every school has different housing policies, options, and costs. Students might have to live on campus their first year, or the cost of living in that area could be significantly higher. The benefits of in-state tuition could be diminished by the costs of living on campus or in that town. Some students narrow their search to colleges they can commute to while living at home. They might attend a four-year college nearby and stay with their parents (saving on rent and food costs) until their junior or senior years. Parents and students should look at the entire price tag of attending college, not just the base tuition costs.
THEIRS NO PLACE LIKE HOME
You should also ask yourself how far from home you want to be for college. Some students deal with the transition from high school to college better than others, and it can be tough to be in an unfamiliar place without access to your usual support system. During other times of change in your life, such as switching to a new school or moving to a new town, did you adapt well or did you struggle? This should give you clues as to how you might deal with settling into a new environment in college. If you think you’ll be all too happy to be away from your family and start meeting new people, you may thrive at an out-of-state school where you can re-establish your identity.
PROS & CONS OF OUT-OF-STATE COLLEGES
PROS
• You’ll be able to explore a new area and get outside your comfort zone.
• You’ll meet more people from different backgrounds and be more incentivized to make new friends.
• You’ll have more independence and get a feel for what it’s like to live on your own.
• Tons of choices! If you’re open to attending college out of state, you’ll have a huge range of different types of schools to choose from and won’t be limited by what your state offers.
CONS
• You'll pay a higher tuition price for an out-of-state college than you would for an in-state public university.
• You’ll miss out on any savings you might get from living at home and commuting to an in-state school.
• You’ll be further away from home, so you won’t be able to rely on your family for support as much or see your old friends as often.
• You might feel isolated or lonely in an unfamiliar place.
However Zemir, when you’re deciding between staying close to home or traveling a significant distance for school, try not to let the promise of starting over push you across the country. Wherever you go, you will be able to enjoy new experiences. The real decision is whether or not, at the end of the day, you want to have the option of heading back to your family home regularly.
Hope this was Helpful Zemir
COLLEGE COSTS FOR IN-STATE VS. OUT-OF-STATE
According to CollegeBoard, the average cost for a year of out-of-state tuition and fees is $23,890 annually, while the average cost of in-state tuition is $9,410. This is where the estimated gap of $10,000 comes from. Many public state schools are funded by local taxpayers. This means parents and kids who work before entering college essentially pay to keep the university open each year before they enroll. Out-of-state students don’t pay taxes to that state, which means they aren’t entitled to the benefits of reduced costs.
ADDITIONAL COSTS TO CONSIDER
Even if you think you can afford an in-state school, there are additional costs to consider before you apply. For example, every school has different housing policies, options, and costs. Students might have to live on campus their first year, or the cost of living in that area could be significantly higher. The benefits of in-state tuition could be diminished by the costs of living on campus or in that town. Some students narrow their search to colleges they can commute to while living at home. They might attend a four-year college nearby and stay with their parents (saving on rent and food costs) until their junior or senior years. Parents and students should look at the entire price tag of attending college, not just the base tuition costs.
THEIRS NO PLACE LIKE HOME
You should also ask yourself how far from home you want to be for college. Some students deal with the transition from high school to college better than others, and it can be tough to be in an unfamiliar place without access to your usual support system. During other times of change in your life, such as switching to a new school or moving to a new town, did you adapt well or did you struggle? This should give you clues as to how you might deal with settling into a new environment in college. If you think you’ll be all too happy to be away from your family and start meeting new people, you may thrive at an out-of-state school where you can re-establish your identity.
PROS & CONS OF OUT-OF-STATE COLLEGES
PROS
• You’ll be able to explore a new area and get outside your comfort zone.
• You’ll meet more people from different backgrounds and be more incentivized to make new friends.
• You’ll have more independence and get a feel for what it’s like to live on your own.
• Tons of choices! If you’re open to attending college out of state, you’ll have a huge range of different types of schools to choose from and won’t be limited by what your state offers.
CONS
• You'll pay a higher tuition price for an out-of-state college than you would for an in-state public university.
• You’ll miss out on any savings you might get from living at home and commuting to an in-state school.
• You’ll be further away from home, so you won’t be able to rely on your family for support as much or see your old friends as often.
• You might feel isolated or lonely in an unfamiliar place.
However Zemir, when you’re deciding between staying close to home or traveling a significant distance for school, try not to let the promise of starting over push you across the country. Wherever you go, you will be able to enjoy new experiences. The real decision is whether or not, at the end of the day, you want to have the option of heading back to your family home regularly.
Hope this was Helpful Zemir
Yes, this was extremely helpful. Thank you!
Zemira
Your Welcome Zimira. The real opportunity for success lies within the person and not in the college.
Doc Frick
Thank You Melisa. “Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another.” – Erma Bombeck
Doc Frick
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
Hi, Zemira!
When choosing a college, there are many factors to consider related to your academic, social, financial, and career considerations and goals. Geographic location is a large factor for many students.
Considering an out-of-state institution may give you additional options not offered within your home state, help you grow outside your comfort zone, allow you to network in the area that you want to settle in your adult life, and introduce you to different cultures and people.
Staying within your home state can ease the cost of higher education (especially if you're considering a public university), use your connections within your area while creating new ones, and take advantage of the wealth of knowledge in your own backyard.
Regardless of the location, making a list of your priorities for your college education is a great place to start in determining which institutions would be a good fit. Once you've determined what you're looking for in your educational experience, you'll be able to identify the right place - whether in- or out-of state!
Good luck on your journey! I hope that you enjoy the experience!
When choosing a college, there are many factors to consider related to your academic, social, financial, and career considerations and goals. Geographic location is a large factor for many students.
Considering an out-of-state institution may give you additional options not offered within your home state, help you grow outside your comfort zone, allow you to network in the area that you want to settle in your adult life, and introduce you to different cultures and people.
Staying within your home state can ease the cost of higher education (especially if you're considering a public university), use your connections within your area while creating new ones, and take advantage of the wealth of knowledge in your own backyard.
Regardless of the location, making a list of your priorities for your college education is a great place to start in determining which institutions would be a good fit. Once you've determined what you're looking for in your educational experience, you'll be able to identify the right place - whether in- or out-of state!
Good luck on your journey! I hope that you enjoy the experience!
Thank you so much!
Zemira
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
Hi Zemira,
I liked the experience of going to school out of state. That was the main reason that I lived in the dorms. And in the dorms, you meet people from all over the world. My first year roommate was from Alaska. She took it really well when I asked her if she skied to school. (Her answer was yes.) My second year roommate was from Nagano, Japan. I feel proud to know now that I helped her learn English, really working on her accent. I had good friends from Hawaii during that time as well. It also gave me the confidence to study abroad later in college.
The downside was the cost. i am not sure if it is still the case, but the expense can be great.
Gloria
I liked the experience of going to school out of state. That was the main reason that I lived in the dorms. And in the dorms, you meet people from all over the world. My first year roommate was from Alaska. She took it really well when I asked her if she skied to school. (Her answer was yes.) My second year roommate was from Nagano, Japan. I feel proud to know now that I helped her learn English, really working on her accent. I had good friends from Hawaii during that time as well. It also gave me the confidence to study abroad later in college.
The downside was the cost. i am not sure if it is still the case, but the expense can be great.
Gloria
Updated
Jim’s Answer
I struggled with this problem when I was applying for colleges. Here are some of the pros and cons I thought about when applying.
Pro:
-Huge opportunity to meet new people from different backgrounds.
-Experience living in a new area (everything will feel new to you)
-Grow independence
Cons:
-Away from family. Difficult to return last minute.
-Cost is significantly higher than domestic colleges
-Having to make your own decisions
Overall, in my case the cons out weighed the pros when I decided on which college to go to. Many of the pros of going out of state are the same experiences you will still have in a domestic college.
Pro:
-Huge opportunity to meet new people from different backgrounds.
-Experience living in a new area (everything will feel new to you)
-Grow independence
Cons:
-Away from family. Difficult to return last minute.
-Cost is significantly higher than domestic colleges
-Having to make your own decisions
Overall, in my case the cons out weighed the pros when I decided on which college to go to. Many of the pros of going out of state are the same experiences you will still have in a domestic college.
Updated
Melisa’s Answer
Hi Zemira,
What a thoughtful question. As others have already shared, the cost differences between in-state and out-of-state colleges can determine your college finances needed, scholarship eligibility and expenses needed for your education.
I am from IL and went to school in MI. I loved my experience at a small private college and made some lifelong friends who I am still in touch with today, including my college roommate. I also appreciated the smaller class sizes than a state school and personal attention received from professors willing to help with a smaller student load.
My youngest daughter also went to school in MI to a state university and her tuition actually cost less than several in-state colleges she applied to. But she also received a couple of scholarships to attend her university and the school had a variety of other scholarships focused on cultural diversity and academic achievement that an out-of-state student could apply for.
From my personal experience, sharing a few pros and cons:
PROS
• Enjoying a new experience, living dorm life, meeting new people and making lifelong friends.
• I was also able to share my experiences, being born and raised in Chicago and having parents born in another country.
• A faster path to independence and learning to live on your own and away from family. I feel like my years out-of-state are the years I grew the most individually.
• Experiencing new perspectives from others who grew up in a state different from yours. This was helpful in study groups as we all learned from each other
• For me, going to school in a state that was also more scenic than mine, allowed for some nice down time for hikes or water sports, to help with the stress of being in college, studying for tests, completing assignments, etc.
CONS
• Typically a higher tuition cost than going to a school within your state.
• Expenses of living out-of-state and money needed to travel to/from home (gas and car expenses, plane, train or bus travel, etc). You either need to have your own car to get around or need to rely on someone else or public transportation to get around where you are.
• In an emergency situation, illness, car troubles, etc. it was more challenging not having family nearby to help.
• Emotionally, I did have some times of feeling lonely in a new place far from home. It wasn’t always feasible for my parents to come for things like “parents’ weekend” or special events, so I experienced times on campus alone during a weekend when others had their families around.
As John shared in his answer, if you are not too far, like I was, a 5 hour drive was not bad for heading home for the weekends or holidays, depending on the time of year and weather.
But if you are out-of-state across the country, it will be more costly and time consuming to travel home.
When I did go to school and live out-of-state, I found local organizations and on campus clubs or social activities very helpful to keep from being lonely. For example, my family is from the Philippines. I missed my mom’s great cooking and Filipino food. But from time to time, I was able to find a local church, grocery store or events that had Filipino food and fill a void that felt like it was missing during my time away.
I also joined our campus Social Action Committee to help plan concerts and events, so I could be surrounded by new friends and keep busy in between studying. I didn’t have a lot of time to just sit in my dorm room or feel too lonely because I kept busy.
Whatever you decide, I wish you much success and happiness in your future career and educational goals.
college university
Continue doing your research on tuition and scholarships available at colleges that interest you.
Look for helpful student social media groups for the schools you have interest. These are great sites to get a look at what campus life is there and can even help you find a roommate, students from your own area, etc.
Keep asking great questions on CareerVillage!
What a thoughtful question. As others have already shared, the cost differences between in-state and out-of-state colleges can determine your college finances needed, scholarship eligibility and expenses needed for your education.
I am from IL and went to school in MI. I loved my experience at a small private college and made some lifelong friends who I am still in touch with today, including my college roommate. I also appreciated the smaller class sizes than a state school and personal attention received from professors willing to help with a smaller student load.
My youngest daughter also went to school in MI to a state university and her tuition actually cost less than several in-state colleges she applied to. But she also received a couple of scholarships to attend her university and the school had a variety of other scholarships focused on cultural diversity and academic achievement that an out-of-state student could apply for.
From my personal experience, sharing a few pros and cons:
PROS
• Enjoying a new experience, living dorm life, meeting new people and making lifelong friends.
• I was also able to share my experiences, being born and raised in Chicago and having parents born in another country.
• A faster path to independence and learning to live on your own and away from family. I feel like my years out-of-state are the years I grew the most individually.
• Experiencing new perspectives from others who grew up in a state different from yours. This was helpful in study groups as we all learned from each other
• For me, going to school in a state that was also more scenic than mine, allowed for some nice down time for hikes or water sports, to help with the stress of being in college, studying for tests, completing assignments, etc.
CONS
• Typically a higher tuition cost than going to a school within your state.
• Expenses of living out-of-state and money needed to travel to/from home (gas and car expenses, plane, train or bus travel, etc). You either need to have your own car to get around or need to rely on someone else or public transportation to get around where you are.
• In an emergency situation, illness, car troubles, etc. it was more challenging not having family nearby to help.
• Emotionally, I did have some times of feeling lonely in a new place far from home. It wasn’t always feasible for my parents to come for things like “parents’ weekend” or special events, so I experienced times on campus alone during a weekend when others had their families around.
As John shared in his answer, if you are not too far, like I was, a 5 hour drive was not bad for heading home for the weekends or holidays, depending on the time of year and weather.
But if you are out-of-state across the country, it will be more costly and time consuming to travel home.
When I did go to school and live out-of-state, I found local organizations and on campus clubs or social activities very helpful to keep from being lonely. For example, my family is from the Philippines. I missed my mom’s great cooking and Filipino food. But from time to time, I was able to find a local church, grocery store or events that had Filipino food and fill a void that felt like it was missing during my time away.
I also joined our campus Social Action Committee to help plan concerts and events, so I could be surrounded by new friends and keep busy in between studying. I didn’t have a lot of time to just sit in my dorm room or feel too lonely because I kept busy.
Whatever you decide, I wish you much success and happiness in your future career and educational goals.
college university
Melisa recommends the following next steps: