Gen Z and the Movement Towards Local, Affordable Schools

Introduction

As members of Gen Z progress into their late teens and early twenties, it is no surprise that the issue of education is top of mind for the next generation of students. However, this transition into a new stage of life is not filled solely with excitement for the opportunities to come, but it's also permeated with dread for the costs associated with these opportunities. Over the past few years, we have increasingly seen a shift in desired college attendance away from big-name universities to more local, in-state schools. As a Gen Z student myself, I aim to explore this shifting perspective and explain how my generation's unique circumstances have led to these changes.

Our Unique Perspective

Growing up, it was not uncommon for Generation Z youth to hear discussions surrounding the issue of higher education. Whether it was the voices of politicians on our TV screens or the personal discourse between the members of our immediate family, these conversations undoubtedly left an impact on the next generation of college students.

As the youngest of four in my family, I had the eye-opening experience of seeing my older, millennial siblings struggle with their student loan debt. Even well into their 30s, student loan payments still make up a significant portion of my siblings' monthly budgets. This knowledge has played a big factor in determining my personal decision to attend an in-state university that was close to my home.

As I made my decision on which colleges to apply to, I had a keen understanding of the financial impacts this decision might have. In-state schools would allow me to save a significant amount of money that would otherwise have gone toward tuition. When I did apply for out-of-state institutions, I did ample research into the potential financial packages they offered. Furthermore, private institutions were likely to cost me more than public, so applying to these schools would also be paired with applications for significant scholarships.

With all of this research in mind and all of my applications submitted, I was confronted with a decision. Although I had been accepted to schools that were my first choices to attend, I also had to weigh the long-term stresses that would be caused by the costs of attending these schools. Not only did many of these schools offer insignificant financial aid (or none at all), but I would also face the enormous costs of room and board associated with attending these schools. In the end, I chose to do what was more financially responsible for my future by attending a local, public school to which I could easily commute.

I am not the only member of my generation to share this perspective, though. One study by Nitro College found that 65.7% of Gen Z students were planning to attend an in-state institution to save on the costs of their tuition. Furthermore, of these students, 19% of them planned to live at home and commute to campus throughout the course of their studies.

Another major factor that has played into the desire to save on education is the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only has the increased advent of online education options encouraged more Gen Z students to learn from home, but the economic strains resulting from the pandemic have also led to the desire to choose more affordable higher education options. All of these pandemic-related factors have created demand for more flexible and/or inexpensive options for Gen Z students, including accelerated degree programs and online-only education. In fact, according to a survey conducted by ECMC Group in 2023, just 52% of Gen Z students were considering attending a traditional, 4-year university. This is a large decline from the 71% of Gen Z-ers who considered this option before the pandemic in 2020.

Ultimately, there is no one perspective on the right school to attend, and these decisions are made on an individual basis. However, by exploring the larger trends in higher education among Gen Z students and the circumstances that created these trends, we can make more informed decisions on higher education in the future.