What’s Important: Geographic Location & Grounds

There are many factors that can influence your college decision. In our What’s Important series, we are unpacking seven common factors parents and students tell us are influential when they are choosing a university. This series will also provide resources for your college search based on the factors that are most important to you. Today’s factor is Geographic Location and Grounds.

An exciting aspect of the college experience is that you can choose your geographic location. Want to stay close to home and commute? Great! Want to travel thousands of miles away and immerse yourself in a new environment? Go for it! Want to find that sweet spot that’s just far enough away from home that you feel independent but close enough for an easy weekend trip to get some home cooking? That’s an option, too!

When geographic location is one of your top priorities, you are likely going to pick a school based on where it is situated. How close (or far) do you want to be from home? Will you do your best work in the heart of a bustling city or in the close-knit community of a college town? Any of the many options for a college’s location can be a great choice, so pick the one that makes the most sense to you.

Also consider the college or university’s grounds (i.e., what the campus actually looks like). Your goal is to find a space that inspires you, a place where you can see yourself happily going to class every day. Remember that this campus is going to be a major part of your life for several years!

What to look for on a college website

• Photos of campus and a description of the location
• Virtual tours that let you see campus before you visit in person
• Lists of activities and resources that are available in the surrounding city/town/community

Example questions to ask your admissions counselor

• What does housing look like for freshmen and upperclassmen?
• What do safety measures and security services look like on campus?
• What recent campus renovations or upcoming projects are you excited about?
• How do students typically get around campus and the surrounding area?
• What activities are there to do on campus or in the community on the weekend?

What to look for on your college visit

If geographic location and grounds are important factors in your college decision, visiting campus to get a real feel for it is going to be very valuable to you.  

• Location: How easy is it to find and access campus?
• Setting: Do you like the way campus looks and feels?
• Quality: Are buildings and landscaping maintained well?
• Features: Does campus have the features (e.g., a lake, a pretty bell tower, a place to set up a hammock, etc.) that you want in a college?

Links to HU resources related to geographic location and grounds

• Our home campus Visit page, which includes links to a campus map, directions to campus, and a list of local restaurants and hotels — plus ways to schedule a visit
• An overview of our Arizona location and its awesome programs and facilities you can tour for yourself

“I chose Huntington University for a few different reasons. One, the campus is beautiful and honestly a perfect size! Walking to class never takes me more than 10 minutes from wherever I am. A small campus was really important to me because it also allows you to be more connected to others and what is happening on campus. It feels more like a community. The residence halls here were also my favorite of the universities that I visited. The choice between suites, Jack and Jill, or communal living really gives you the opportunity to choose what option works best for you and your needs.”

Rebekah (2021)