If there’s one thing about college students, we know how to ball on a budget—and that includes moving! Whether you’re heading to the dorms for the first time or the last time, it’s always nice to save a dollar or two along the way.
At Collegeboxes, we know that there are a lot of ways to move to school, and some may be a better fit for you than others. Here’s our breakdown of how much it costs to move to college.
Breaking Down the Costs of Moving to School
How Far Are You Going?
If you’re going to an in-state school, moving is going to be pretty cheap and easy. Nice!
But if you’re traveling to school from out of state, or across multiple states, it can mean either a multi-day drive, or a multi-hour flight. Depending on what you choose, you can either haul your items along with you or ship them to your destination.
How Are You Getting There?
Unless you plan on walking, you only really have two options when it comes to moving to college—driving or flying.
Driving
If you’re one of those people that can fit everything into their sedan, congratulations—you have unlocked the cheapest and most uncomfortable way to get your stuff to school. It’s not ideal, but it’s a tried-and-true classic!
On the other hand, if you have parents or friends helping you move, consider renting a moving van to get your things to school. And when you rent with U-Haul, you can unlock special deals to help you save.
Get Special Savings on Van Rentals!
At U-Haul, our cargo vans are intended for in-town moves, which means the van needs to be returned to the U-Haul center you rented from. But if you have really cool parents that can return the van back home, you can receive special mileage rates on your move. That means more money in your pocket!
Cargo Van Rental: $19.95 + Mileage
Driving is a great option if your school is within a 10-hour drive from home, but if you are planning a multi-day drive, you’re going to have to account for hotel fees and gas.
For example, if you’re moving from Chicago to attend Arizona State University, you’ll be driving across six states for 26 hours. Even with budget hotels, driving the distance could end up costing you anywhere from $2,500-$3,000 just on hotels and gas.
On the other hand, a flight from Chicago to Phoenix is a little over 3 hours and priced at about $200 per ticket. This cuts your travel time and price dramatically. This is why we typically encourage long-distance students to consider shipping their belongings and flying to school.
Flying & Shipping to School
Sometimes you need to protect your mental health (and wallet) and not endure a multi-day drive before school starts. In cases like this, it’s way easier to just pay for a plane ticket and ship your stuff to school.
With Collegeboxes, you can ship your items to campus at an affordable price (even less than standard mail carriers).
- In-State Shipments: $35-$50 per box
- Regional Shipments: $50-$80 per box
- Coast-to-Coast Shipments: $65-$90 per box
Also, keep in mind that you also have to ship yourself to school, so don’t delay on booking those plane tickets! The further in advance you book, the better the deal you get (plus, you won’t get stuck in the middle seat).
Invest in Supplies You Can Use Again and Again
Boxes might not be super expensive, but the cost can add up over the course of four years. When you purchase the College Boxes Supply Kit, you get a full bundle of supplies for your move, including our signature box!
The Collegeboxes signature box is built stronger than your usual cardboard. In fact, it can be used multiple times before needing to be recycled. That’s quality that you can’t find anywhere else!
The Most Budget-Friendly Option? Collegeboxes!
Shipping
As we mentioned before, you can ship with Collegeboxes for a cheaper rate than standard mail carriers. This makes us a favorite among parents and students alike! But if you’re looking to level up your service, we can also have your items ready for you in your dorm room, so all you’ll have to worry about is unpacking.
Storage
Lugging things like a microwave, a bike, or a lamp, between your house and the dorms can be super inconvenient. And honestly, you don’t really need them back at home anyway. So, why not store it over the summer?
With Collegeboxes, we can keep your items safe and sound near campus during the summer. Our storage rates for college students start as low as $12 per item and we charge on a per item basis (boxes count as their own item—so load those up!).
You can either have them shipped over to your dorm or swing by and pick them up on the way! Once you’re ready to get your items out of storage, please give us at least 48 hours to prepare your items.
No matter how you want to move, Collegeboxes can help! Whether you’re looking for shipping, storage, or just some college tips, we’re here to make sure each year at school is a successful one.
Ready to get started? Sign up with Collegeboxes today!