Hi, I am just now getting interested in commuting to my classes at school. I know absolutely nothing about bikes and need help picking one out. Some factors that may impact what bike I get are that I want to be able to ride the bike as a commuter without any problems, but am also looking to get into some heavier riding when my baseball career is over at the end of the spring. Also you should know that I go to school on the hilliest campus in America. The price range I'd be willing to pay is anything under $1500 dollars. Thanks for your help glad I found this site!

Check your local bike shop would be the first advice I'll give you. The type of bike you should get would probably be a hybrid or possible a road bike. Your bike shop should be able to recommend one to you or you could go on Craigslist and find some good bikes. Top brands to look for include but are not limited to Trek, Specialized, Giant, Santa Cruz, Cannondale, and Raleigh. After that, make sure to invest about $50 in a good U-lock for the bike and possibly a rear rack and some fenders. You'll also want to buy a good set of lights for the bike so that you can be seen in the dark. You can either carry a backpack or have panniers or some sort of bags then mounted to your rear rack with all the tools needed for basic maintenance. I usually carry a spare tube, wrench, frame pump, chain tool, and a spare chain link.

This is my setup. I live in the Ozarks which is known for being hilly and I get around perfectly on this.

Thanks! That helps a lot. Somebody said something to me about Salsa Vaya? Would you recommend this?

I can't help you on a bike choice, since I don't stay up with current offerings. But times sure have changed. Imagine, a college student with $1500!!!.

Haha summer jobs + scholarships. I'm looking at it as an investment I don't want to get a bike I'll grow sick of after a while.

It would definitely do the job very well. If it's the one you like then go for it

Would the Vaya be a good bike for long rides when I just want some exercise on the road too?

As a college student, I'd worry about theft. $1500 is a lot for a college bike.

I'm not living in a dorm and can take the bike in my home.

what would be a good quality bike you'd suggest for my circumstances then?

The Vaya would be good for long rides. But a good quality bike for a college student would probably be something like one of Trek's FX series or if you like road bikes, try and find a Trek, Specialized, or Giant for $1,000 or under. I definitely enjoy my Trek 7.1FX. And it's right by their lowest FX model and it still does great on long rides. Now I imagine a 7.4fx or higher. Definitely something worth looking into as far as hybrids go

You're going to lock it up at some point. A good lock will help you keep it.

What about during classes???
Our Universities/Colleges are prime targets for bike theives.

Play bikes and work bikes are so different that it is worth having 2 bikes, if you have the storage room.
For an everyday campus commuter, you shouldn't spend too much because of security issues. You need enough quality to be durable and reliable. $300-800 midrange bikes are usually a good bet. You also need to budget for accessories such as lights, fenders, luggage racks, panniers, helmet, lock, repair kit and you need to run some premium, puncture-resistant commuter tyres to get you to school on time
In hilly terrain you need a triple front chainring, so 24 (3x8) to 27 (3x9) gears (the number of rear cogs makes minor difference).
You need tyre clearance for medium sized tyres + fenders. In snowy areas you need extra clearance for studded winter tyres.
The wheel size, 26" MTB or 700c hybrid makes little difference for commuters. I have used both.
Brand makes little difference in the same price bracket. You may want advice and backup from a local bikeshop so pick your shop first. Get a bike the right size.
Used bikes can be good value if they are not worn out.

I ended up going with the Cannondale Bad Boy 9. Thank you all