College Crunch

Whether you are in high school looking at prospective colleges or have been out of school for a while, the amount of choices available can be overwhelming. There are in-state colleges, out of state colleges, and tech schools available to you. When choosing which school to attend, there will be a lot of information you will have to sift through. Tuition, housing, part-time jobs available, and much more will all need to be researched and considered before making any kind of decision. Some out of state colleges such as Ivy League schools are very appealing if you make the cut but are extremely expensive. If you choose to attend an out of state college, you will also be paying the non-resident tuition. This all makes state schools very appealing choices. Let’s take a look at a few of the benefits of attending a state college.

State colleges are, well, in your home state. You will be close to friends and family and if you are lucky, you’ll start the school year with some buddies. This definitely eases your transition period and has other perks too. If you stay off campus, you have potential roommates to split rent and utility bills with. You also have some study buddies you already know. Your family will appreciate how close you are as well. You won’t be paying for phone cards to call home, you can visit easily, and if you live close enough, go home to do your laundry or even live there until you graduate. While this may not sound appealing to everyone, saving that rent money can really be a life saver especially with today’s economic conditions.

State colleges offer significant tuition discounts for residents of their states also. You could save thousands of dollars by attending a state college instead of moving. Non-residents might have to pay over 20% more than you will. You may even have the option of taking a few classes online so you won’t even have to leave your house to earn some credits.

State colleges are usually significantly larger than private schools and will offer many more extracurricular activities as well. There will be more fraternities and sororities to join, more clubs that might appeal to you, and a lot more cool stuff happening on a regular basis.

When you are making the decision whether or not a state school is right for you, keep in mind that the cost is cheaper, there may be more classes offered, and you may be a lot closer to your friends and family. This doesn’t mean you should absolutely choose a state school however. Private schools offer their own advantages such as smaller class sizes and sometimes, more recognition in the working world after you graduate. Just choose the school that meets your personal needs and fulfills everything you are looking for in a good school.