In-State: Deciding on your college path (Copy)

In-State:

For any Samo student, not staying in-state would be a waste of the colleges and overall resources available to them. As California residents, Samo students have the privilege of living near an impressive list of state schools that should certainly be considered in their application process. 

College can be very costly. According to data from the Education Data Initiative, the average cost for an out-of-state public university in 2023 averages $27,023. For an in-state education however, the average cost is $9,349, according to data from 2019-2020. For many students, this drastic jump in prices would be a deciding factor. There are also more financial aid opportunities available for instate individuals. Samo senior Ben Dreifort (‘24) agrees that there are great benefits to staying in state for college, such as the price and connection. 

“I definitely think that if people want to stay home and stay in touch with their roots, applying instate is definitely a good option for that. Also, I think if you apply instate you have higher chances of getting accepted. I think you can get in-state tuition and get financial assistance from applying in-state,” Dreifort said. 

The distance from home to college is also another factor to take into consideration for numerous reasons. Travel costs, while often not factored in, can eventually pile up, adding costs to college prices. Moreover, it is common for students to get homesick in their first few months of college. Staying in-state allows for easier and more affordable transportation, allowing for more time with family and friends.

California specifically, has some of the best public colleges in the country and with SAT and ACT scores now optional for UC schools, these colleges have become even more accessible. For students who have not done well on exams or have not taken them, the UC’s are thus a great option, as there is more emphasis on other qualifications, such as GPA, class rigor, and extracurriculars. 

Community colleges in California like Santa Monica College, have also maintained high national rankings for their great transfer programs. Many Samo students are already embedded in the college through dual enrollment. Outside of Santa Monica, there are local community colleges scattered throughout the nation, accessible to almost anyone.

Samo college counselor Julie Honda ultimately agrees with Dreifort about the financial benefits of staying in-state, especially post-graduation. 

“Something to consider is how much debt do you want to be in after you graduate, that is a big thing for a lot of us nowadays. Also how much do your parents or you want to be in debt for going to a four-year institution.” Honda said.