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In state vs out of state US colleges: Advantages and disadvantages
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In state vs out of state US colleges: Advantages and disadvantages
By Chloe Lane
Updated August 31, 2023 Updated August 31, 2023Choosing a university is never easy. There are so many different factors to consider including how close you want to be to home; a campus or a city university; a private or public university - the list goes on. One of the biggest decisions you’ll have is deciding whether to apply for an in-state college or an out of state college.
Whether you decide to study in-state or out of state is ultimately up to you. Some people prefer staying closer to home, whilst others prefer to adventure further out and attend a college in a state they’re not so familiar with. It can also be a case of comparing public vs private university options that are available to you.
If you’re unsure which is right for you, we’ve outlined the advantages and disadvantages of each to make your choice a little easier.
What are in-state and out of state colleges?
Each of the 50 US states have their own public higher education institutions run by the state. They are funded by the taxes in each state. You can see some of the best public colleges in the US below.
People living in the state will get the option to attend any of the state universities and will only have to pay state tuition fees, which means they can attend the school for a much lower cost. Students from outside the state will have to pay out of state tuition fees for the same universities, which are significantly higher. College admissions requirements may also differ between the two groups of universities.
Top public universities in the US 2024
In-state colleges: advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of attending an in-state college
Disadvantages of attending an in-state college
Out of state colleges: advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of attending an out of state college
Disadvantages of attending an out of state college
How will this impact the cost?
Accommodation
While accommodation costs differ depending on the university, if you’re planning on living at home and attending your in-state university, this could save you a lot of money. Student halls range from US$500 to US$3,000 depending on whereabouts in the US you’re based.
However, lots of students studying at an in-state university choose to stay in student accommodation to fully immerse themselves in the student experience.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees will be substantially higher if you decide to study out of state. According to education data, the average annual cost of tuition in a four year public intuition is US$10,440 for in the in-state rate and US$26,820 for the out of state rate.
Cost of living
It’s worth bearing in mind the cost of living when deciding where to go to university.
The cost of living will generally be quite a bit higher if you’re planning to study in a big city, such as New York or Los Angeles, compared to studying at a university in a smaller town or city.
You should also note that the cost of living at the university might be different between a city and a campus-based university.
Travel expenses
It’s pretty well known that flying from one end of the US to the other is not exactly budget friendly. Take some time to consider how much it’ll cost you to travel to and from university, including going home for the summer and Christmas holidays.
Business Insider estimates the average domestic flight in the US costs around US$359. This can easily add up. Even if you only go home twice a year, you’re going to be spending around US$1,436 a year on travel.
This article was originally published in September 2020 . It was last updated in August 2023
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As Content Editor for TopUniversities.com and TopMBA.com, Chloe creates and publishes a wide range of articles for universities and business schools across the world. Chloe has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Reading and grew up in Leicestershire, UK.
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