Recession may force more West Michigan college students to stay close to home - Nardy Baeza Bickel, The Grand Rapids Press

Kelloggsville senior Brittany Sharp wanted to attend a small business college next fall. When deciding between Davenport and Northwood universities, Davenport's proximity to home broke the tie. Sharp, 18, calculates she will save $9,000 by living at home. "Their tuition is probably the same, but the housing would end up costing me a lot of money. I don't want to be 23 and be in major debt," she said. Sharp is among many high school graduates who this year are opting to commute to college, picking less expensive colleges or delaying their college decision as they deal with a struggling economy.