I’ll tell you a little story. When I told my mom that D would be doing a semester abroad (UK) she was fine for a while and then a few weeks later she started barraging us with pleas to not let her go because she read some stories in the newspaper about some American study abroad students who met tragic ends somehow and she was honestly, terribly afraid for our D’s safety. Although I got a bit worked up listening to her go on and on, logic prevailed and D went, had a wonderful experience and the whole issue just kind of evaporated into the ether with my mom after D returned safely.
Bad things can happen in-state as well as out-of-state as well as overseas, but if you keep your wits about you, don’t engage in reckless or risky behavior the odds are in your favor. Parents worry, that is part of the job description, but it shouldn’t stop you from going a bit further afield for school. Our D went OOS and the only big deal with that was trying to coordinate trips home for holiday breaks when everyone and their mother was on the move and ticket prices for transportation options were accordingly inflated and scarce unless you planned far enough in advance, which we are bad at. The only times I could justify trying to make someone stay in-state or even close to home would be either for financial reasons (state-subsidized in-state tuition is less costly), or if there were a particular tricky health issue with the student. I know I’d rest easier knowing that familiar healthcare providers who took our insurance were within relatively easy reach should a need arise.