<p>Are your parents willing to pay the cost of an out-of-state university?</p>
<p>Look at the Western Undergraduate Exchange. There are a number of participating public universities in Western states that offer students from other Western states a reduced out-of-state tuition - usually 150% of the in-state cost. Most of them aren’t the “big name” schools, but who cares? It’s not about the name, it’s about what you do there.</p>
<p>I totally understand where you’re coming from, as I wanted to get out of the Bay Area after finishing an associate’s degree at a local public community college. I transferred as a WUE student to the University of Alaska Fairbanks and ended up graduating (still under WUE) from the University of Idaho. Again, fine, the names aren’t going to impress Aunt Maude, but I got a great education, Moscow is a wonderful college town and I found my way into a Big Ten graduate school and career federal employment.</p>
<p>Also, if you’re interested in medical school, both UAF and UI participate in an interstate medical school program called WWAMI that grants degrees from the University of Washington School of Medicine.</p>