As the end of the school year approaches, seniors begin to finalize their first big decision as adults. Graduation brings feelings of excitement and poignancy as the end of high school arrives. For those heading to college, the next big choice is whether to stay local or to venture out of state. Students consider many different factors when deciding where to spend their next few years of schooling. In a survey of LHS seniors, aspects such as tuition costs, distance from home and academic life are at the top of the list.
The cost of college often leaves students with debt that can take years to pay off. Tuition and housing costs are generally cheaper for students remaining in-state. Scholarships, such as the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship, provide financial aid to residents as an incentive to study in-state. South Dakota has six public universities that offer lower tuition for residents. Local private university Augustana offers 100% of its full-time students scholarships, grants or both. For students hoping to go farther from home, there are merit scholarships that can help with the steeper costs of out-of-state tuition.
Distance from family and home can often be a major factor in college decisions, and the majority of LHS students cited this as the most important factor. For some students, staying close to a familiar community and friends is important for support. Living with family can also offer a major financial break. Other students see the opportunity of going to a new and unknown place as an adventure. Although it can seem scary to leave home for college, most consider the risk worth taking and leave South Dakota.
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a college is the academic life at the school. 61% of surveyed students at LHS said the availability of a specific major is the most crucial factor in choosing a college. While most schools offer academic programs for a vast majority of interests, colleges commonly specialize in certain subjects, for which they offer a wider selection of classes. Some colleges offer more majors than others, depending on the size of the school and what resources are available to it. For instance, the University of South Dakota has one agriculture major, whereas South Dakota State University has nine. Iowa State University and Purdue University, both out-of-state schools, offer 30 different majors in their agriculture departments. Picking a school that fits a student’s academic needs is crucial to future success.
While the choice of picking a college can be overwhelming, it is helpful to look at which factors matter most to you as an individual. At LHS, it seems the majority of seniors hope to explore the opportunities offered outside of South Dakota.
