What is the cheapest way to move to college?

Moving stuff to college without breaking the bank

Going away to a university is an exciting time, but it can also be challenging to figure out how to get your stuff to an out-of-state school. Is it possible to find a reliable service that won’t cost a fortune? Definitely.

Let’s look at ways students transport things when moving to colleges across the country or another state. We’ll weigh the options to help determine the cheapest solution for you. 

Shipping solutions for moving to an out-of-state university

When moving to a nearby college, traveling in a personal vehicle is often the cheapest and easiest way to go. However, loading everything into a car isn’t always practical when going out of state for school.  

Here’s how many students transport belongings to campus: 

DIY moving service 

You might think hiring a company to ship things to a university will be too expensive, but that’s not true with a DIY service like U-Pack®. Self-moving services are significantly cheaper than full-service options. 

With U-Pack, you save money by taking care of the labor (packing, loading and unloading) yourself. Then, we will transport your belongings to campus, often in one of our ReloCube® moving containers, perfect for student moves. 

Parcel shipping 

Shipping one or two boxes to campus is often cheap and easy. However, parcel services like UPS®, FedEx®, or USPS® are not the most cost-effective solution for multiple packages and heavy items since rates are based on the size and weight of the shipments.  

Plus, once you get to campus, you might have to lug everything from an on-campus post office since many dorms don’t allow package deliveries. 

Rental truck

Rental trucks have a reputation for being a cheap way to move, but that’s often not the case for long-distance relocation. Trucks typically get less gas mileage than regular cars, so paying for fuel to move far away to college can break a budget fast.  

While the trucks are useful for transporting things, driving a bulky and unfamiliar vehicle on a crowded campus isn’t ideal. Plus, the smallest trucks are often larger than you’ll need to move into campus housing — leaving you paying for unneeded space. 

Additional ways to save on college shipping expenses 

Make your move even cheaper with these tips: 

Bring less stuff 

Extra things take up more space in equipment and more boxes, which could lead to higher costs. Pack only the essentials for the dorm, so you’re only paying to move what’s necessary. 

Change the moving date or delivery options

If campus move-in dates are flexible, relocating on a weekday can be less expensive than choosing a weekend. 

Also, you can save hundreds of dollars on the move by loading or unloading the Cube at a U-Pack service center. 

Look for discounts 

Search online for coupons to save on services or packing supplies. U-Pack offers a student discount — just let us know or enter the code CAMPUS50 when making an online reservation.

Share equipment with a friend 

If a friend is going to the same university, consider splitting the cost of moving equipment to save money. Work out the details with your friend to share the ReloCube* by loading and unloading together at the same place or a local service center to unlock the most significant savings.  

*U-Pack ReloCubes can only be reserved for delivery to one location for loading and one location for unloading. Only one payment method is accepted. 

See how U-Pack is the cheapest option for moving away to college 

Don’t wait until the last minute to book your move out of state! Get a U-Pack quote online now or call 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak to a moving consultant.