Comute to Mizzou

I have a friend who is planning to apply to Mizzou for an OT program. It's the only public university in the state offering this program. She lives in St. Louis and has two young kids. The husband has a good job in St. Louis and can't relocate to Columbia. Is it practical to commute two hours each day one way for 3 years? The program is full time. Has anyone had to commute to school and how stressful is it?

Gas is running between $3.50 and $4/gallon. She has two young kids.

Unless her husband is making a bucketload of money AND she has adequate daycare arrangements, I'd say this is a bit unpractical for her.

Has she compared the cost of a non-public university program to Mizzou's with the cost of gas, childcare, STRESS, etc.?!?!

Our son is a student at Mizzou and I have made a daytrip or two since he's been out there and found it to be fine. But would I want to make it daily -- Oh, no. There are a lot of trucks and a lot of bad weather and often horrific accidents on that stretch of highway. We have witnessed at least 3 of these accidents shortly after the fact and seen many more covered on TV. I worry everytime my son hits the road to/from school.

And I was born and raised and lived in L.A. until our move here 15 years ago. We drove everywhere out there, but even I wouldn't be ambitious enough to undertake this endeavor. I gotta' think there's something better closer to home. Unless hubby is willing to hold down the fort during the week and she was to stay near campus. Rents are pretty reasonable, so that's an alternate thought.

I wish her the best...