It’s true, PrimeMeridian, and a very good point, that’s one of the reasons there is less economic diversity at small LACS in the boondocks, and for Whitman it means fewer students come from outside the west coast. If you live several hours from an airport hub, getting to Whitman is a long trip and probably expensive. If flying, it’s wise to make reservations early, flights are cheaper months ahead. Whitman does give merit and/or need based aid, so that can help lower the overall cost. Pasco is a very viable alternative airport an hour away, with more flights from more places, it does involve a bus ride to campus or a friend to pick you up. The thing that is very hard to calculate while making a budget is the savings a close-knit community can produce, once students get acquainted there is a lot of helping each other out. Carpools form in Seattle and Portland, often eliminating that final leg of a flight. We live in the Bay Area and my son had a car, he picked up friends for the drive there and dropped them off on the way back. Rides back and forth to the airport in Pasco are a frequent occurrence.