<p>I guess the distinction can be what the directional school offers…does it have any big sports to watch, does it offer a strong performing arts dept that draws loyal spectators, does it have a developed Greek system to keep kids on campus…</p>
<p>Non-flagships are far more likely to be suitcase/commuter schools simply because those who can afford to go away, usually go elsewhere to a private or to a flagship. (I’m not just defining Flagship as the U of State school of the state. Some states have 2-3 big colleges with Flagship-like status…like IU and Purdue, Cal and UCLA, or UGa and GT, USCarolina and Clemson, etc)</p>
<p>As much as people may not like it, it often is the presence of some big team sports that catapults a non-flagship into being less of a suitcase school.</p>