3 Benefits of Going to a College in Your Home State

For many of us, going to college is the first time we'll be truly moving away from "home."

It's essentially a chance to move far away and start fresh while you work towards your future career, creating a new life for yourself in the process. If it sounds a little scary, don't worry—while it's a completely new experience, it's exciting and the best way to push yourself towards building the life you really want for yourself.

But the thing is, moving "far away" to start your next chapter as a fully-fledged college student doesn't actually have to mean moving that far. If you love the state that you grew up in (and honestly even if you don't), there are plenty of reasons to choose to attend a university in that state. Need some more convincing? Check out these benefits of going to a college in your home state:

1. It's a Whole Lot Cheaper

If you haven't yet discovered the difference between "in-state tuition" and "out-of-state tuition," it's time to school yourself a bit. This information can usually be found on the university's website or somewhere within the applicant information, and it's not something you should simply brush off while flipping through photos of all the amazing on-campus amenities. The difference between what you might pay as an in-state student and an out-of-state one is significant, so at the very least it's something you'll want to discuss with your parents or whatever group might be funding your higher education.

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2. Visiting Home Is Much Easier

Whether you get homesick easily or not, it is nice to know that a trip home isn't too far out of reach when you attend a college in the state you grew up in. From weekend trips to visit your parents (and raid their fridge or make them do your laundry while you're at it) to the inevitable trip back for Thanksgiving and/or winter break, there's nothing quite like being able to take a simple hour(s) long drive or a cheap flight to get home—and trust us, your family will surely appreciate the lack of major distance more than you know.

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3. You Still Get to Experience a New City

Unless you're attending a college that happens to be right in your hometown (which is, for the most part, unlikely depending on where you're from), it's a given that you'll still be making the move to a new city. This can be quite the adventure in and of itself, especially when you consider that most colleges tend to be in bigger cities with more diverse populations and access to better resources. So, instead of bumping into the same few people you went to middle school with every time you take a trip to the grocery store, you can experience everything from concerts and university-hosted events to simply meeting people from all around the world without ever having to leave the state you're from. Plus, there's always the option to study abroad (something we couldn't recommend more—in fact, you can click HERE for some reasons why you should do it ASAP).

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If there's one key to making the most of going to a college in your home state, though, it's that you'll still want to live on campus (or at least not at your parents' house). Need a little extra inspiration? Just click HERE to read about some of the benefits of living in a dorm in college.