How the % of in-state vs OOS impacts campus culture

College Search & Lists
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My kid attended a state flagship in another state (recently graduated) that is now about 50/50 on in state vs OOS students. This is an interesting question. He made connections with students both from in state and out of state. He had 3 roommates most of his college career. 1 was from in state, 2 were from out of state. His freshman roommate was from that city (random assignment), that wasn’t great actually. I am not sure that kid ever graduated, didn’t engage well with classes or campus that first year.

He looked at colleges all over. Finances were a huge reason for this choice and honestly he was a bit tentative starting. But it was a rigorous, well regarded school for his interests. That also was in a fun setting and city and didn’t feel hyper competitive. He much prefers a collaborative and friendly vibe. He had stats to apply anywhere, we visited many campuses (sometimes for my info and amusement lol) and had strong feelings about posturing and pretense in info sessions, student panels, sitting in classes, etc. I definitely think the locals affected the feel in a positive way. But not in a “you’re an outsider” way. It is a huge school and we were taken aback by how friendly and approachable and welcoming the faculty was. Over the past 5 years I’ve walked through campus many times alone, done many things, super friendly city/campus!

Also this is definitely called a party school and he is still not a partier. But still made great social connections, though early covid was a rough period of time. I also think many kids have a rough go making connections that first term in many types of schools. I think it is easy to feel like an ousider but many other students are feeling that way out of the gate. I also think it’s easy to assign it to something it to one thing like location/local culture. I remember struggling to adjust starting at my own state flagship that had some representation from my high school.

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D24 went for a scholarship weekend at a school with <15% OOS students. People seemed incredulous when they found out where she was from, in a “why would someone from out of state apply here?” kind of way.

She thinks she could find her people there and she didn’t feel excluded, but her out of stateness was something that was highlighted by those she interacted with. She was different…unusual.

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My daughter got that too- why would somebody from x come HERE? HS kids don’t appreciate what they grew up with, I guess.

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I have two daughters (D23s) who attend OOS publics. One of the publics is W&M (62% in state). W&M did a phenomenal job with pre orientation trip options, required week long orientation participation w all day schedule and early club fair. All the kids had to interact and my D23 established solid early relationships and joined several clubs. Other D23 is OOS at large Midwest public w 55% instate. Didn’t have college fair until she’d been there two weeks. By then some club teams already had tryouts. Assigned instate roommate. This semester is better but I think if an OOS public wants OOS tuition $ they need to do a good job at integrating all kids so they thrive and want to stay. I really think pre orientation trips and required first week orientation participation paired with early club availability is key. These are things I would look more seriously at if deciding again.

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I agree 100%. My daughter joined the out of state student association which planned trips and gatherings. It also helped that she joined a lot of clubs right away and got herself involved.

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I have a second year, in-state at UVA. He lives with two kids from OOS (NC and MA) and two from Richmond. (He is from more rural SW VA.) There were 3 other kids from our county that joined him at UVA and another that he knew from Governor’s school. But he has never sought them out at school to hang out. First year, his social network was based on his first year dorm. He has travelled to both NC and MA to visit his roommates (past summer and breaks.) We only live about 90 minutes away from UVA, but he doesn’t come home other than breaks. I don’t think the school feels “local” to him at all.

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DS is a third year at Georgia Tech. We are from NJ. I believe GT is about 55% Georgia residents. He only knew one other person from his high school when he headed down there. I would say that, of his 10 or so closest friends, four are from Georgia. The rest are from other East Coast-ish states(furthest west would be Saint Louis). I really like the prevalence of Georgia students - I think it gives a nice mix of a cultural identity, but with a large mixture of other states represented. Definitely doesn’t feel like high school 2.0. Surprisingly, he says that he hasn’t met a single person from California, Oregon, or Washington.

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This sounds very similar to my experience at UVA almost 30 years ago.

I also second @comtnmom

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Here is what purports to be a list:

https://■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/lists/list/percentage-of-out-of-state-students-at-public-universities/360/

As another poster noted, some flagships in smaller states rely on 50%+ OOS students for viability–Vermont, Delaware, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Wyoming.

Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas also have adopted that as a strategy. Others are not far off–Colorado (49%), Oregon (same), West Virginia (48%).

45% and below, a lot more start showing up pretty quickly–and then that list cuts off at 40%.

In terms of feel, this is just anecdotal but I think it can depend a bit on the state, and indeed the relative positioning of the college in the state. Like, at least in our circles, William & Mary has a reputation for a lot of the in-state kids coming from near DC. This seems to be supported by this chart:

https://research.schev.edu/enrollment/E12RA_Report.asp

In 2023, William & Mary had the second-highest percentage of in-state students from Fairfax County at 29.9%, after only George Mason at 41.3%, and ahead of UVA at 25.1%, and four-year state system total of 19.3%. George Mason is of course actually IN Fairfax County, and so William & Mary being second only to them does seem to suggest they are unusually oriented to that part of the state given their actual location. William & Mary is then #1 for Arlington at 5.0%, versus 3.5% for UVA, 3.2% for George Mason, 2.1% for the state total.

For our kids, this reputation tends to make William & Mary relatively appealing for them.

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Have a child that went to UMD OOS from a northeast state. There really wasn’t a culture shock because most of the OOS kids were from NJ, NY, PA, DE, MA and VA with a few tossed in from other places. So the OOS didn’t feel like there was much difference between MD (or the other popular OOS) and our state.

Child 2 went to Syracuse. Private, so no caps on being in state. Same thing. Kid’s friends are mostly mid Atlantic, Northeast, Chicago and some CA.

Child 3 went far south. But that was what they wanted. South, sports, weather, and loved the slower pace and friendliness . As kid is non binary ( and a culturally Jewish atheist) I had big concerns. But they are doing great. Have great friends, almost all from southern states, and just as much social acceptance as other 2 kids. Thought I would be packing the bags and transferring, but nope, still loves it. As an SEC school, it does have a lower Greek participation than other SEC schools, which is helpful because they weren’t interested in that aspect.

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I think U of Vermont has a much lower instate percentage (low 30%)

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Likewise, U Delaware is majority OOS.

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so true. My son went from growing up an hour outside of Manhattan to college in Texas…the entire first semester he was overwhelmed by the friendliness…which grew to be a real positive for him.

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my daughter from NY/NJ area is at a southern SEC school that is 80% in-state. no issues for her. she knew that going in. a good number of the out of staters are also from the Northeast. she hasn’t found the local people clicky, although some sororities that are older only recruit from specific private high schools from the South, or from legacy pledges. not an issue for her, really.

avoiding a commuter school feel is something to consider, though. it could be depressing being on campus over a weekend or break when everyone has gone home.

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35

Yeah this is something that would not appeal to me, generally speaking. OTOH if there are still “thousands” of kids still around, maybe that’s enough to overcome that. Maybe. I guess it depends on the vibe on campus. Or maybe you get invited home with those friends.

Right, I was thinking further up the ladder generally speaking. But all that makes sense about UVM and the ‘why’ of its student composition. I love Burlington, or used to back in the day. I understand it’s gone downhill to a somewhat shocking degree in the last 3-4 years. Like many of the same developments as in other cities, but because Burlington is so small and compact the problems are amplified.

Enjoying/appreciating the experiences shared, thanks for those. I’d love if more people named names, but I understand why some don’t.

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I think this is common at big schools.

I know many UGA families (from Atlanta) - and maybe their kids don’t come home weekly but definitely regularly and some even have jobs on the weekends in Atlanta.

But I’m sure there’s enough staying on campus that it’s easily overcomeable.

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Cuse has 64% OOS. My son seems to be a rare Midwest cuse freshman and yes, most of his friends are from instate, Northeast, Chicago burbs, and CA.

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I think some flagships are much busier than others. Some have lots of stuff, different activities etc going on …all the time….whereas others might be quieter (not because kids go home). This might make it a harder adjustment for some OOS kids who are looking for ways to fit in.

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I would imagine a lot depends on how academically competitive the in-state population is. California and Virginia, for example, will have a never-ending supply of highly competitive students. Maybe smaller states like Alabama and Utah do not…?

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Would love clarity on what you’re saying. Is the supposition that the presence of more competitive in state students will make a school feel more (or less) like a “local” school?