@dragonmom3 You have many interesting post on CC and was hoping to have conversation since you called me out, however, my pillow is calling my name. Goodnight
Anecdote, my hunger to go OOS to college was probably helped by the fact that I live in a small state to begin with, as well as the awful experiences I had growing up in my home state. But while my younger sister doesn’t mind potentially staying in-state, my younger brother might want to follow in my footsteps and go OOS as well…
I think some students learn from older siblings, friends, cousins, etc., who have gone away and then transferred back that sometimes the grass is not greener farther from home. My sister went away to an LAC and then transferred back, and I was never interested in going so far away (or to a small school).
Same sister has a friend who is on her 4th kid’s college search. All three older kids have gone off to medium sized colleges, all three have transferred back to a big state school. Final child was going to go to an LAC in Ohio, but is following a coach to another teeny tiny school in the south. I do not think she’ll last, but it is what she wants so her parents are willing to let her try.
Looks like most of the colleges on this list have some sort of nationally well known characteristic that attracts students and is not commonly found among colleges that may be more local to many students.
Location also plays a role. USMA, USAFA, and USNA all have the nomination process that leads to geographic diversity, but their locations relative to populated areas of the US appear to factor into the average distances that their students travel to get to the schools.
Massdad, what on earth are you talking about? Cost is not only “a” factor but it is indeed THE factor for the vast, vast majority of American students & their families.
Sheesh, it is not that difficult: (many many) plus (vast vast) plus (maybe something else) = total.
Many, many Americans have a huge abundance of money, that’s a simple fact.
I think going out of state is a great experience, if your student wants to try, and if the money works. I grew up in NJ, went to school in NH, and the region had a huge impact on my life. My older dd is planning to go south for the good weather (as well as the academics) so we are going to let her go. I think it broadens your world view.
From the posts on CC, it seems a lot of kids want to go OOS for college. But the median US income is only ~$50k/year so the majority of students won’t be able to afford a residential college at all, much less travel OOS for one.
Do most students who go OOS attend public colleges or private ones? Aid seems to be better at private colleges. I think as long as families can get aid those who can afford to pay for residential college will continue to send their children OOS.
@sorghum Most Americans DONT have an abundance of money. You say it’s a fact. Can you point to your sources?
@SouthFloridaMom9 - that’s funny. My D is only 5 hours away at school and yet I go through 3 states before I get to her school (Maryland to Connecticut). You are right, Florida, California, Texas are large states and you can stay instate and yet get the “far from home” feel. Our flagship state school is literally 20 minutes up the street, closer than her high school was. It was never a viable option just because of its location.
I said many, many do, not most do … many (even twice) may not constitute a majority.
@sorghum Sorry sorghum. I misunderstood your statement. But ya. Your right. There are many people in this country who can afford college.
The point above that even at the elite, national universities, a high percentage of students are from the school’s home region is correct.
E.g. at Stanford around 35-40% of undergraduates, if I recall correctly, are from California, which has about 12% of the US population. Likewise, around 40% of both Harvard and Yale undergraduates are from the Northeast, which is also disproportionate as the region is around 15-20% of the US population.
I don’t think things are going to change any time soon. Out of state students that pay full-fare tuition are cash cows for many state universities, many of which are facing budget issues.
Agreed. And, plus pay full-fare internationals. See UIUC.
Based on the headline, I thought this discussion would be about how many years before the majority of students go to college online.
Student enrollment is declining going forward due to demographics; the number of high school- aged students is now declining in this country. So, the trends for this year’s graduates are going to be different for future years. Right now, students have fierce competition to get into universities that should be just a match (not a reach). In the future, universities will be competing to fill their classes. I think it is too soon to see how this is going to play out. In five years, we will see a new trend that correlates with the reduced student population.
Out here in the big square states, the picture is different. There is one actual LAC in Colorado (Colorado College), and with its oddly low acceptance rate, especially for locals, my D tried hard but could not get in. I think the next closest “top-40” LAC is 10-12 hours drive, at which point you might as well fly, especially in the winter. If you’re flying, there is no reason to stay close. There are are a limited number of big schools here, too, and while the quality is fine they may lack specific programs a kid is interested in. So, my D is going to the Northeast; many of her friends are going to California. If we lived in Ohio, she would most likely be going to school within 250 miles. Not so here.
There are a few LACs that seem to be much more successful at recruiting long-distance students than locals. Only 12% of Colorado College students come from Colorado. Reed is located close to the Oregon/Washington border, but only 14% of Reed students come from either state.
Colorado College would recruit far more students from Colorado if they accepted them! Their acceptance rate for applicants at my daughter’s high school, and in our district, is well under 10%. At the info session they were very proud of the fact that only 10-15% of their students are in-state and they have “great geographic diversity.” So, we don’t think there is anything accidental happening here 