Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Beyond cost, what are some of the pros and cons of going to college within a few hours of your hometown? Let’s take a look…

Pros

Going to a school close to home can make the transition to college much easier.

Students will not have to consider travel logistics when planning holiday and school break visits home. 

An escape from campus to relax or recharge is much easier when the campus is a short drive from friends and family. 

Choosing a school closer to home is particularly helpful for students with medical or social-emotional support systems already established in their home area.  

Cons

A student going to school close to home may not gain the independence they would if they didn’t have the option to drive home for a weekend visit or a weeknight dinner and laundry drop-off. 

Students may not settle into their campus community if they have the option of going home as often as they like or meeting up with high school friends rather than investing in new relationships on campus. 

Students going to school close to home will not experience regional and cultural differences that they would have had they chosen a school in a new environment. 

Some students find attending a school close to home means running into former classmates and acquaintances more often than they may like and makes it harder for a fresh start in college.