@Movotti
There are about 125 colleges in my state, some very large and some very small. Some universities are public (which means that they are cheaper for in-state students to attend and more expensive for out-of-state students. Some universities are private (instate/out of state pay same). Many universities specialize, or are known for certain areas (archaeology, biology, engineering, teaching, etc.). A student might attend a college halfway across the country to attend a good university that offers courses in what they like.
Living in a dorm here is more economical than renting an apartment.
My daughter attends University about thirty minutes from us (we are very lucky there is a good one close by that offers courses in which she is interested). She commutes, but she did live on campus her first two years. (commuting is even more economical than living in dorms, lol).
Some of her friends chose universities in different states (10 hours or more), obviously they would not commute. They likely all lived on campus one or two years and then probably rented an apartment their junior and senior years (I can't say for sure because I am not that interested and I haven't asked her).
It's about an 8.5 hour drive from one end of our state to the other. Still too far to commute if you live on the coast and go to school in the mountains.
