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June, 2025

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Is going out of state for college worth it?

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L-B
Posts: 19 - Karma: 76
Basically I want to go to Colorado state because Connecticut is basically a hell hole of boredom and I am going to study geology. The problem is that out of state tuition+ room and board is super steep and I only have 60,000 in the tank for college atm. Loacal university is only around 40,000 for entire bachelors degree where as that would be one year at CSU. What do you guys think?
7 years ago
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jjdsteeze
Posts: 2563 - Karma: 4,144
If you can avoid being in debt id prolly do that.
7 years ago
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jjdsteeze
Posts: 2563 - Karma: 4,144
go to college local and then move out of state once you're done.
7 years ago
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CitizenKane
Posts: 5794 - Karma: 22,498
stay in state and save money. your future debt-free self will thank you.
7 years ago
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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 5106 - Karma: 18,747
I concur with the other two who posted in this thread. Connecticut is not a bad place to live at all. Take that extra 20K and travel a bit to figure out where you might want to live in the future? What type of work are you looking to get into? Petroleum? Construction/engineering? Academics? Not sure where else you go with a geology background?
7 years ago
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Malcolm
Posts: 15953 - Karma: 9,501
It seems like going away for school is an American tradition. In Canada most people go somewhere local. That debt's going to be crazy. Why not go somewhere close to home and use that extra money for trips when you have breaks?
7 years ago
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.nasty
Posts: 10598 - Karma: 11,396
Do yourself a favor and avoid CO. Expensive housing everywhere and big city population crammed into a small city area (even in fort collins for CSU). Go to SLC or Bozeman
7 years ago
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Deepskier
Posts: 3270 - Karma: 4,865
Why don't you spend a year just skiing in Colorado so you get residency then you can go to CSU for the price of it being in state.
7 years ago
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willyg0808
Posts: 4231 - Karma: 1,365
Idk why it's an unpopular opinion on NS but it is, go out of state if you can. It's definitely expensive, and my dads a professor and my parents encouraged it so I recognize my privilege. But if you can make it work, do it. You'll have to make new friends, find a new dentist, find a new place to get your hair cut, etc. It forces you to figure yourself out and idk I've changed so much in my four years out of state and I know if I stayed in my home state I would be doing the same shit I did in high school.
7 years ago
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NorCalSkier
Posts: 32 - Karma: 0
If you want to save money, I would recommend going to a local community college for 2 years first. That will save you a lot of money and plus, the first two year of college is general ed only which can be done at any community college. After that, you can then transfer to a university out of state to finish your upper division courses in 2 years and get your bachelor.
7 years ago
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profa_212
Posts: 9297 - Karma: 41,400
going out of state was really good for me. But there isnt a chance i would go out of state to Colorado imo. Housing is crazy expensive and the colleges seem to be the same way. There are much cheaper options out there OP. If you play your cards right with scholarships there is a chance you wouldn't even be spending that much more than in state as well.
7 years ago
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pow_pow~
Posts: 1429 - Karma: 1,804
Its not worth the debt mate. If you want to go away and discover yourself or some shit go on a holiday and save yourself 120k
7 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52723 - Karma: 175,364
Does CO do anything for in state tuition if you live there for a year? I think CA still does. But look into something like that if you want to save some loot but be out of state.

Geology is pretty popular in CO though
7 years ago
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*ninja*
Posts: 2108 - Karma: 1,144
im paying out of state in utah and im going back to wa, prolly washington state for in state next year. Deffiantly thankful for the experience living in slc but I miss home and all the high school homies. I also deffiantly plan on traveling around a lot after college and going abroad to study sometime soon in europe. I just want to get my degree in business and then go chill and start up a company somewhere on the beach. id go to uconn if i were u and then maybe look into transfering somewere out of state if u want to like senior year if you arent happy.
7 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52723 - Karma: 175,364
*ninja*im paying out of state in utah and im going back to wa, prolly washington state for in state next year. Deffiantly thankful for the experience living in slc but I miss home and all the high school homies. I also deffiantly plan on traveling around a lot after college and going abroad to study sometime soon in europe. I just want to get my degree in business and then go chill and start up a company somewhere on the beach. id go to uconn if i were u and then maybe look into transfering somewere out of state if u want to like senior year if you arent happy.


Seems like it would be more expensive to study in europe? Why not just do the schooling in the states and take a month or two to backpack europe.
7 years ago
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*ninja*
Posts: 2108 - Karma: 1,144
theabortionatorSeems like it would be more expensive to study in europe? Why not just do the schooling in the states and take a month or two to backpack europe.

Thats a good point i might look into that. that would be fun and prolly much cheaper. However, there are reasonably priced programs to study abroad if you pick the right place.
7 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52723 - Karma: 175,364
*ninja*Thats a good point i might look into that. that would be fun and prolly much cheaper. However, there are reasonably priced programs to study abroad if you pick the right place.


True, there are def some pretty reasonable programs. I don't know that much about them but if you're open on location you can do pretty well. I just know some peopl spend way to much to go abroad for a semester when they'd be better off doing it post school, saving some $$$, and traveling.
But yeah, find the heady deal. Enjoy. Def look into oving to a state that gives you in state tuition after a year as well. If you want to GTFO off CT, that's not a bad option on a budget.
7 years ago
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losh
Posts: 1126 - Karma: 4,707
DeepskierWhy don't you spend a year just skiing in Colorado so you get residency then you can go to CSU for the price of it being in state.


It's actually not very easy to do this. They have so many factors that go into "having residency", and it makes it pretty damn tough. I don't remember all the specifics, but things like what state your highschool was in and shit all go into whether or not they decide to give you instate prices. Unfortunately it seems like living here simply isn't enough to actually declare residency. It's weird af.
7 years ago
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DirtYStylE
Posts: 3652 - Karma: 8,909
Let me get this straight, you want to spend more money on college so you won't be bored? It sounds like you think college is some grand vacation where you have three day weekends
7 years ago
2 0
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losh
Posts: 1126 - Karma: 4,707
DirtYStylELet me get this straight, you want to spend more money on college so you won't be bored? It sounds like you think college is some grand vacation where you have three day weekends


I'm currently in college with 3 day weekends. It's lit
7 years ago
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DirtYStylE
Posts: 3652 - Karma: 8,909
jlens05I'm currently in college with 3 day weekends. It's lit


My friend was able to stack 15 credits on two days a week. He also had a 2.3 GPA
7 years ago
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losh
Posts: 1126 - Karma: 4,707
DirtYStylEMy friend was able to stack 15 credits on two days a week. He also had a 2.3 GPA


Cs get degrees bruh
7 years ago
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DirtYStylE
Posts: 3652 - Karma: 8,909
jlens05Cs get degrees bruh


It's actually D's...
7 years ago
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profa_212
Posts: 9297 - Karma: 41,400
DirtYStylELet me get this straight, you want to spend more money on college so you won't be bored? It sounds like you think college is some grand vacation where you have three day weekends


Currently have 3 day weekends and ski 5 days a week


Shits tight
7 years ago
3 0
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Snowgoner
Posts: 5047 - Karma: 969
What school in CT are you considering? Not to be a dick, but Colorado State isn't a great school. Spending $40k to go to a mediocre out of state school for the "experience" seems like a dumb move IMO.
7 years ago
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Snowgoner
Posts: 5047 - Karma: 969
To add, I go to school back east and the skiing obviously sucks. Take some of that extra money you saved by staying local, and go out west once a year during your spring break.
7 years ago
0 0
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mmccarthy81
Posts: 415 - Karma: 764
I’m from New Jersey and hate it here as well. The one thing that I was sure of when looking at schools was that I would be miserable staying here. I applied to CSU and it was a top choice of mine, but as nice as it is, I’d be facing a lot of debt after graduation. Turned out I liked University of Utah just as much based off of my visits to the two schools and it is far more affordable. They were more generous with scholarship money and because of this I can attend for under $30,000 a year out of state. It also is super easy to obtain in state tuition in Utah so I intend on going for in state prices after my first year. If you really hate Connecticut, I know exactly how you feel. Find a school out of state and make something work. Clearly you don’t want to stay in state, so don’t listen to people telling you to do it. Find a way to do what will make you happy.
7 years ago
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10097 - Karma: 76,795
DirtYStylEIt's actually D's...


May I ask what your GPA is? Lol cuz C=2.0

Anyway OP, moving out of state is more expensive yes. Maybe you want to get away from your hometown and out of your parents house. I totally understand. If you really have your heart set on it, make sure to weigh all options and locations as they vary drastically. If your degree is only 4 years and you can get it anywhere, I say live at home, go to school cheap and then move somewhere you want when you graduate at 22-23 years old. You'll still be in prime skiing age when you graduate with plenty of opportunities to have fun. Plus you can still visit friends at colleges and get to enjoy the party scene.

Living at home saves you on all utilities, rent, food which account for thousands of dollars every SEMESTER. You won't have to cook meals. You won't have to worry about snoozing through alarms. Plus you get in-state (maybe even in-county) tuition at places. You'll probably get better grades with your parents on your ass all the time. You won't have to pack up an entire dorm or house every year and move after each school year (this sucks tremendously. Part of the reason after I graduated I have stayed in my same apartment for 2 years even though I could do better. I hate moving with a passion). You won't have to drive home for holidays. Chances are you'll graduate with 50-75%+ less debt than going out of state or out of town.

Honestly it all depends on your priorities but graduating debt free and being able to move wherever after school is a pretty convincing argument that I should have considered myself.
7 years ago
1 0
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TOAST.
Posts: 7788 - Karma: 40,205
So glad i stayed local for college, managed to graduate with under 15k of debt. Now i can safely buy a decent house and managed to travel a good bit after school. Don't go to a private school, wife did that (also local) and has a nice size loan to pay off.
7 years ago
1 0
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DirtYStylE
Posts: 3652 - Karma: 8,909
IsitWinterYet17May I ask what your GPA is? Lol cuz C=2.0


Totally forgot there was a minimum GPA to graduate. I just remember that you can still get credit for the course if you get a D
7 years ago
0 0
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s0ulbucket
Posts: 306 - Karma: 542
You can always go somewhere through national student exchange and your tuition will be matched. My friend goes to Keene state but is spending his semester at Montana state and skiing everyday
7 years ago
1 0
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edai
Posts: 4995 - Karma: 4,701
I'm living in Colorado for my second year coming from Southington. Where do you live now?
7 years ago
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dadi
Posts: 449 - Karma: 972
I would say if you have an immediate pull towards a certain school, then yes, go out of state. But if you don't know what you're doing, or why you're going to college or anything along those lines, save yourself the debt.
.nastyGo to SLC or Bozeman

nasty is right, Bozeman is the bee's knees and if you come a year before you ge in state tuition that is dirt cheap and an ok degree. If you're asking a question on NS I'm assuming you care more about skiing that the actual prestige of the college, so Bozeman is a great option over the alternatives (CMC, and Nelson BC).

ALSO CSU is trash. Overall just trash. Just as far from skiing as CU Boulder but with a worse social scene and it smells like cows. Fort Collins isn't anything special and the price is outrageous for the education you are receiving as an out of state student. Maybe it's my Boulder roots talking, but just don't fucking go there.
7 years ago
0 0
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TheTropics
Posts: 101 - Karma: 280
Out-of-State was cheaper than in-state for me (I'm from California so go figure). I would look into other out-of-state schools that are NOT in Colorado but remain affordable. For example, Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA is dope and it's near Mt. Baker and Canadian skiing. The PNW also has insane mountain biking and next level access to quality whitewater kayaking if that's more your spice.
7 years ago
0 0
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Dddsz
Posts: 3042 - Karma: 7,323
Don't be lame, go out of state. All of my friends who stayed in Wisconsin are borderline suicidal right now... All for the sake of saving money. It's 4-6 years of the prime of your life. Don't waste your young years at a school you don't want to attend.
7 years ago
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profa_212
Posts: 9297 - Karma: 41,400
TheTropicsOut-of-State was cheaper than in-state for me (I'm from California so go figure). I would look into other out-of-state schools that are NOT in Colorado but remain affordable. For example, Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA is dope and it's near Mt. Baker and Canadian skiing. The PNW also has insane mountain biking and next level access to quality whitewater kayaking if that's more your spice.


No UNR mention I am disappoint Garrett
7 years ago
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TheTropics
Posts: 101 - Karma: 280
Profahoben_212No UNR mention I am disappoint Garrett

But Bellingham is soooooo dopeeeee...... UNR is pretty dad though. Near really good skiing and other outdoors stuff, also cheap as tuition.
7 years ago
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Casey
Posts: 8028 - Karma: 27,033
Ask me how I know money is not real to you. Jesus Christ on a cross
7 years ago
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10097 - Karma: 76,795
QuaffDon't be lame, go out of state. All of my friends who stayed in Wisconsin are borderline suicidal right now... All for the sake of saving money. It's 4-6 years of the prime of your life. Don't waste your young years at a school you don't want to attend.


Lol I thought high school was the prime of your life...or so they say. Guess what I had a fucking blast in college, but I'm having even more of a blast now. OP, college is not the glory years unless you don't do shit after college and live a shit life with a shit job and a shit wife and shit family.... Then.... Then I guess college is prime years.
7 years ago
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