I'm from California, and would never move back there. The UC system is a mess - with impacted majors you pretty much have to assume 5 years to graduate. And that's IF you can even get into a UC school. They're soo hard to get into; there's a reason hoards of kids from CA end up at U of AZ, Oregon, Washington state schools, etc. Also, it's absurdly expensive and the public K-12 system has various woes. Maybe if you're super rich it would be an option...but then again if you're super rich, you wouldn't be uprooting your family for in-state tuition!

I second (third?) North Carolina. Lots of options in terms of colleges and amazing quality of life (and reasonable COL). Texas and Georgia also have great public universities and good QOL/COL. I'm not a huge fan of Florida but the public college options are excellent. Virginia, obviously, has great choices although I'm not sure if you'd consider that warm.

If you have 3 years, you might look into Canada. No idea what it takes to claim residence but if you get it, it's a much better deal than in-state tuition.

Great state schools in CA, MI, WI, NC, MD, VA, TX and good programs at most any large state school. One of my smartest friends went to the honors college at the university of South Carolina (Columbia). She got a full scholarship plus a living stipend, got a great education, had a good college experience, and got into a good graduate school as well.

VA

Look into The Florida Bright Scholars program.

Anonymous wrote:Are you seriously going to uproot your middle and high school aged kids for this?

For around $360,000? Hell yes.

Are you seriously going to uproot your middle and high school aged kids for this?

Another vote for NC.

There are a great variety of public universities in the state, you'll definitely find something to fit each personality and needs of your children.

CA's state system isn't as good as it looks. So many majors are impacted at so many of the schools that you pretty much have to assume five years to graduate.

Agree that NC has excellent state schools and a few reasonably livable spots. Same for TX. Then there's a drop to GA/FL. Those four states (plus CA) probably form your "warm" universe (if you're excluding VA).

Michigan.

If you think your kids can get into the top flagships then VA, MI, TX, CA, NC are all good options. If you think your kids will go to the next level of schools then VA, MD, FL, WA, WI, GA, OH are worth looking into.

Definitely NC. Raleigh is nice.

Anonymous wrote:It is very expensive to live anywhere in California you would want to live.

Do you know if your kids will be good students? My kid got enough merit aid from some state flagships to make it as cheap as UVA.

Not true. I lived near Sacramento for years and it was much cheaper than living here.

It is very expensive to live anywhere in California you would want to live.

Do you know if your kids will be good students? My kid got enough merit aid from some state flagships to make it as cheap as UVA.

We currently live in DC but with three kids and little savings (and not much in terms of financial aid I will assume) and DC TAG always being threatened, it occurs to me that with my husband’s job we can pretty much move anywhere. We are three years away from our first going to college. I’m trying to plan for it. So I’m asking those who come before me: where would you move to permanently to get your child a great in-state college education? There seems to be a lot of good choices in CA. And warmer weather! I’d love any feedback.