More and more students are making the conscious decision to go to college close to home instead of moving away.

According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, “Twenty percent of the respondents of this year’s freshman survey of full-time, four-year degree students said that being close to home was a very important factor in their college choice.”

Reasons for this could be financial, since in-state tuition is less expensive than out-of-state tuition. Also, students find themselves liking colleges near their homes, so they don’t find a strong need to move away. One luxury for students who attend college close to home: they can see their parents whenever they want.

“Ms. Judge of Ann Arbor, Mich., admitted it can be harder to reinvent yourself in your hometown,” according to the New York Times. She also added that students can experience growth and independence living in a different place instead of in a place where everything is recognizable.

College location has proven to be an important factor in making that final decision.

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