College proximity refers to the distance between a particular college or university and a prospective student's home. Research on the importance of college proximity to college enrollment decisions suggests that, all else being equal, most students would like to attend a college close to their home. Choosing a college based on proximity may have both positive and negative effects for college attendance, attainment, and career trajectory. Researchers began examining the effects of college proximity on the college choice process in the 1920s. Early studies suggested that cities or counties with colleges had higher rates of college attendance.

These results influenced some educators to call for greater proliferation of colleges, particularly community colleges, in order to increase attendance rates.

However, other research found that individual student characteristics, such ...