Economy has college-bound students scaling back - AMIE THOMPSON, Great Falls Tribune

Centerville High School's principal, Matt McCale, said he has seen more seniors staying close to home the last few years. And he knows firsthand that the choice will save the families thousands of dollars. His 19-year-old daughter, Sarah, is attending Montana Tech in Butte, but will be coming back to MSU-Great Falls. "Basically it does come down to economics. We are putting down $18,000 — those are real numbers, not counting spending money," he said. "Coming back here cuts it down by about 90 percent if we feed her ourselves, and she lives with us."