Choosing a college is tough. After all, it’s where you’ll stay for the next few years of your life, and you want to feel at home and happy. When it comes to making the big college choice, one of the key things to consider is whether to go to a local school or go out of state, whether that’s a couple of hours away or somewhere across the country. Whether you’re picking a college for yourself or one of your kids, here are some things you need to think about.

The Pros of a Local School

If you’re lucky enough to have a decent school nearby, then you might be considering going to a college that’s a short commute away. One of the main pros of attending a college that’s close to you is that in-state tuition is often much cheaper. In some cases, your tuition fees will be less than half of a student that’s out of state, so over four years, you could save tens of thousands of dollars.

Staying close to home can have other advantages too. If you have a family, you don’t have to uproot them. Younger students may also want to live with their parents to save money and it means you don’t have to leave your friends and the local area that you know.

The Cons of Staying Local

There are also downsides to choosing a college that’s close to your town:

You don’t step out of your comfort zone and become independent

If you don’t live in dorms, you may not feel you get the full college experience

You’re limited by what’s in your local area

If your local college is a prestigious one, you may find it hard to get in

The Pros of Going Out of State

Going to an out-of-state college means you have a lot more choice and can find a college that suits your academic level. Do some research into the CU Boulder admission requirements on Campus Reel and that of other schools you like that are in different states to find some that might be suitable.

Staying at an out-of-state college is a big step, as it means you must hit the ground running, learn to live alone and make a whole new social circle. However, this can be a good experience for those who want to see more of the world.

Many students choose an out-of-state college as they want to live in another part of the US, and this is a good excuse to move to a big city or a state that they love.

The Cons of Going Out of State

The biggest drawback to being an out-of-state student is the cost. Not just in terms of tuition fees, but living expenses, especially in expensive areas such as big cities. It’s worth researching the cheapest out-of-state schools and looking for one in an area with low living costs.

Moving out of state can also be a big upheaval, especially for 18-year-old high school graduates. If you’re extroverted and love meeting new people it’s great, but introverted people can sometimes struggle.

There are pros and cons to local and out-of-state colleges, so it’s important that you do your research and think about what’s important to you.