It thanked the actions of the previous and current administrations in Scotland in for ensuring full-time Scottish higher education students studying in Scotland did not pay tuition fees or top-up fees.
Individuals weigh this benefit against the costs, including both tuition fees and the earnings they lose by studying rather than taking full-time work.
Veronica King, NUS vice president for welfare, said she was not surprised more students were studying closer to home considering the "huge expense" of rent and bills on top of tuition fees and other basic living costs.