Good States to attend University out West? (low crime, home)

[massflorida]

Ok, I am interested in New Mexico to attend university so I have a separate thread asking questions about that state...

I am interested in any other states out west that are great places to live. I am going to be transferring to either a community college or a 4 year university so any university suggested is good, but I am not looking for Ivy League or incredibly expensive universities.

I am looking for a state with beautiful scenery, friendly people, fairly low crime rates, and universities located within reasonable distance (or within) a large metropolitan area.

I am from New Hampshire and live in Florida/South East Asia (study abroad for past year) so hot or cold weather is fine by me.

If you can point out any particular universities that would be great. University size does not matter to me, but I do prefer smaller universities where I would be able to be on a name basis with my teachers.

Any suggested states/cities?

I am interested in anywhere from Texas to the left.

Please let me know

more details the better...links would help toooo.

[PGKangrui]

There are lots of different kinds of universities near Salt Lake City. It has all of the attributes you're looking for. There is the bigger research university, University of Utah, in the eastern foothills in Salt Lake City. There is also Utah State in Logan, which is slightly smaller than U of U. There are also many other smaller colleges in the area. All are very easy to get into, too.

[alamosakid]

I attend a super small state school in south-central CO, one of the cheapest schools in the country. I think it fits your criteria, except it's in the middle of no-man's land. Your profs will DEFINITELY know you by name, especially if you last more than a year.

If you're academically inclined with lined pockets (just being honest), Colorado College?

[CMDallas]

California.
Really, there isn't much else to be said.
Nice public universities and the scenery is not bad.
I would say the bay area, it has a very young-people feel to it. And Yosemite is beautiful and not even half a day's drive away.

Scenery wise, the west is quite beautiful no matter what state you are in.
except Texas.
There isn't too great of scenery in Texas, imo. But the I guess the hill country is pretty nice. So Austin too. Stay away from Dallas though, and maybe Houston too.... they really aren't that pretty, at least Houston has the ocean. :P

[GlockUnderMyKilt]

Any thoughts on what you might want to study? Different universities might look more attactive depending on their academic strengths.

[massflorida]

Undecided at the moment...anything will do. :P

[ckhthankgod]

Maybe schools like Eastern Washington, Weber State, Boise State and Northern Arizona, among others.

[kyle19125]

For proximity to a larger metro area and with a smaller student population check out the University of Idaho in Moscow. It's close to Pullman WA, the home of much larger Washington State University and about an hour from Spokane.

http://www.uidaho.edu/about/universityoverview (broken link)
Moscow, Idaho

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

For proximity to a larger metro area and with a smaller student population check out the University of Idaho in Moscow. It's close to Pullman WA, the home of much larger Washington State University and about an hour from Spokane.

University Overview (http://www.uidaho.edu/about/universityoverview - broken link)
Moscow, Idaho

Eastern Washington is in that same area too. If private was possible, why not Gonzaga right in Spokane?

[odannyboi]

Unfortunately, since you are an out of state student, even state universities out west would be expensive. Plus you would need to show that you are there to live long term in order to get in state tuition.

If you could, I would go to a Cal State school (CSU Long Beach, Fullerton, and San Diego State). They are dirt cheap if you are a resident.

Generally, in order for teachers to know your name, you would most likely want to go to a small private school (which tend to cost alot). However, you can get to know the teachers in bigger schools (at San Diego state, there are about 35000 students but when I sat in on a class, the prof knew everyone by the first name).

Don;t sell yourself short.. you could probably get scholarships or have schools waive out of state tuition (as I did when I got accepted to Arizona) to attend a nicer more expensive school. Gotta get good scores on your ACT and SAT.