Explore Attending a U.S. College Outside a Major City

The U.S. is home to some of the world's most iconic cities: New York, with its Statue of Liberty and the One World Trade Center, and Los Angeles, with its Hollywood sign in Hollywood Hills. 

But when it comes to actually choosing a U.S. college, international students may find themselves considering some of the hundreds of colleges and universities in the country's lesser-known cities and towns.

For some overseas students, large U.S. cities may prove too tempting to resist. But for those willing to see a different slice of American life, they will want to consider these four factors.

• Transportation: Outside major metropolitan areas in the U.S., it's hard to find a subway system or bus system that makes frequent stops. 

"I love being in a big city and being able to get around without a car, but when you go to a rural part of the U.S., there is not going to be that kind of transportation," says Michael Freeman, director of the office of international students and scholars at the University of Arkansas. His school has a bus system, for example. "But on game days, it doesn't run," he says. 

The good news for students is that on most campuses, they can easily walk, bike or hop on a school shuttle to get food and other necessities. 

Some schools have international student offices that organize trips for students who want or need to travel farther afield. At Pennsylvania's Juniata College, for example, the Center for International Education will take a van of students shopping for coats and winter boots, says Kati Csoman, dean of international education. At Juniata, located in the small borough of Huntingdon, Csoman says she's also seen an increasing number of international students getting cars.

If that's not an affordable option, there's always the possibility of bumming rides off of friends.

"I think some international students get nervous asking for rides, but I don't think it stops them from getting out and exploring the United States," says Kirsten Sheppard, director of international education at Tennessee's Maryville College. 

• Cost of living: Although flying into one of America's small or medium-sized cities may tack on a few hundred dollars to a student's airfare, any extra cost associated with getting to and from campus will likely be offset by a lower cost of living.

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In Purdue University's home of West Lafayette, Indiana, low prices are a draw for international students, says Michael Brzezinski, dean of international programs.

"We tell students that they might get a big scholarship from a private school but be accepted into Purdue with no scholarship, and their costs here might be less when you factor in the cost of living," he says. 

• The feel of the college town: For students choosing a geographically isolated school, the vibrancy of their college town can dramatically shape their experience. 

Just because a school is in a remote location doesn't mean the college won't have certain citylike attributes. Big state schools, for example, may have the kind of food and events one could find in a larger city. 

"You have to look at what's in the community," says Brzezinski. "There are lots of cultural, musical and athletic events on the campus. We are 40,000 people. We are a city within itself."

Smaller schools may not have the kind of entertainment options available at large schools, but that can make for a more intimate experience, says Nadine Waran, a junior at Monmouth College, in Illinois.