Choosing a University in the US: Rural vs. Urban?

The US offers an immense variety of options for international students who are hoping to attend an American University. Students may pick from small schools in rural areas, to larger schools in big cities, and everything in between. The location of a university has a huge impact on not only the educational experience that a student has, but also the social dynamic they will see, the people they will meet, and the post-graduate work environment that they will be exposed to. So, here is an analysis of the two, to help a student evaluate if a university in an urban environment or a rural environment would suit their needs better.

Urban: Urban universities are located in cities around the US. Attending this type of university, you can expect:

• Generally relatively large schools
• Schools that are known for programs in business, law, and international languages
• Convenient public transportation
• Extensive internship and job opportunities
• Big business locations
• Higher cost of living and housing
• Higher cost of tuition
• Large amount of majors to choose from
• Fast pace of life
• Importance of university sports teams and sporting events
• Many options for fun activities, entertainment, art, culture, and music
• Variety of spoken languages
• Larger class sizes
• Large amount of international people and students

Rural: Rural universities, on the other hand, are located in the more remote areas of the US. Attending this type of university, you can expect:

• Relatively small-sized schools
• Small towns where university students make up a significant amount of the population
• Schools that are known for programs in agriculture, sciences, and nature
• More calm pace of life
• Lower cost of living and housing
• Lower cost of tuition
• Close contact and accessibility of staff and other students
• More limited amount of majors to choose from
• Friendly, small town people
• More homogenous populations
• Small campuses with a community feel
• Individual attention to students
• Smaller class sizes
• Opportunities to explore nature and outdoor activities

Wherever you may end up, if you have motivation and a good attitude, you will also achieve success. Nonetheless, it is always important to consider where you will find yourself more comfortable in order to find this success!