My Daughter is also from California and will most likely head to MSU for school. We had the advantage of in-state tuition because her dad is a veteran. Huge price difference. We didn’t even know about this until the counselor told us. From what I know, people stay there or take other students home with them. We have family in East Lansing so we are familiar with the area but she is also tired of Sothern California and would like to experience the midwest.