Upvote:5
Because the USA does immigration at your first port of entry rather than at your destination, the immigration officers in LA (for example) are quite used to processing someone going to school in Louisiana or Nebraska or Pennsylvania.
They also know that airport pricing and hub structures have no rational basis in geography, so one can occasionally get a cheaper flight to San Francisco from Tokyo by flying to New York first.
And as Zach Lipton notes, you’re allowed to enter 30 days before your program begins. Some people use this to find an apartment and settle down but many others do a little sight seeing. This is perfectly allowable.
Don’t overthink it. As long as you have your tickets or a planned itinerary that show you’ll be going to the college city eventually, you’re good.