Non biker looking for advice on a 30 mile round commute on a 125cc?

I start university later this year and I want to start planning everything about it. I will be staying at home, at least for the first year, and I live roughly 15 miles from the campus. I live right next to a train station so I could use that, but I want to independence that comes with my own vehicle, and since I can't afford a car it would have to be a bike. I was wondering if a scooter would be suffiecient, or if I'd have to get a proper bike instead? The honda pcx 125 is mighty tempting and is just about affordable for me (with a little help from the student loan). I've done research though and people seem to be saying scooters won't do, and you'd need a proper bike. I will be on rural roads for most of the journey, with a bit of town riding at either end. Do you think I'll be able to make do with a 125 scooter or will I have to get a proper bike?

Fifteen miles on a scooter is doable and quite affordable but it does take planning ahead as most of the smaller displacement (engine-wise) are not very highway friendly so extra time is required for the extra time spent traveling. Another couple of other things to consider are weather, riding in the rain is not fun but livable with proper gear (there's a few hundred bucks) and than there are all of those other 7.5 BILLION people on this planet AND some of them drive larger vehicles and don't see a scooter OR a motorcycle.
Your thoughts and plans are good in concept so all you need to do is to ask yourself one question- Am I ready, willing and able to do my plan?
Wish you luck, riding is fun once you live through learning how to live through it and than it just gets better.

On country lanes and city streets a 125 would work great. 15 mi. Each way would be about half an hour, averaging about 30 mph but doing as high as maybe 45 or 50 on the 'open road'. And a bike that size is very easy to handle and to learn to ride on.

Perfect for the job, underseat storage for your books too.

You might want to get one of those scooter aprons to keep the rain off your legs as well as a decent textile waterproof jacket, helmet and gloves.

No. It's easy and feasible but dangerous. Get proper training and don't skimp on the gear. A good helmet jacket pants and boots. Winter and summer gloves. Never ride without them.