On the Journey to and Through College, Location Matters

The hurdles to earning a college degree are many — confusion about the application process, lack of academic preparation, and cost, to name just a few.

But another obstacle can be considered just as significant: geography. Think of the students who live in “education deserts” — areas where two- and four-year public colleges, which accept most applicants, are few and far between. For some students, the farther they live from a college, research says, the less likely they are to attend one.

The importance of geography also comes into play for students who actually do make it to college. Studying close to home is increasingly common, despite the popular belief that going to college means traveling far away. In 2019, nearly 42 percent of freshmen reported that they attended a college within 50 miles or less of their home, up from about a third two decades earlier.

But where students live is a factor in other parts of the college journey. In some instances, paying attention to geography lays bare who gets admitted to public flagships. In others, it sheds light on where graduates are likely to carry hefty student-loan debt — and where they don’t.

For a closer look at the intersection of place and the pursuit and costs of a college degree, see the charts below: