While nearly all college institutions have a publicized and estimated cost of tuition, it is obvious that there are additional expenses for attending college that are not always included in a college brochure, including the cost of housing. Only 17% of colleges in the U.S.-- about 87 in total--require first year students to live on campus, leaving the majority of students with the open option for on or off campus housing no matter what year you are in. However, this poses the dilemma of which to choose, and more often than not the decision will come down to which choice is the least expensive because as future college students with generally high tuition costs, we all will most likely need to be saving as much money as possible.
The answer of which housing option to choose is mainly dependent on which university you are attending and the cost of living in the area around your college. When living off campus in a shared apartment, for example, your cost of living will include rent, utilities, food, transportation, and other minor factors, whereas room and board cost at a college rolls all of those expenses into one price and automatically provides you with amenities. Depending on where your campus is located, however, all the various expenses of living off-campus may actually add up to be less than the housing cost at your college. The best course of action to take before committing to on-campus living is to familiarize yourself with the local area and housing options and compare the on-campus living expense with that of the off-campus renting options, so that you can make the best financial decision for your budget and monetary needs. This strategy of comparing all assets of each option is also a good habit to develop as you begin to make more significant financial choices into adulthood, as taking the time to research all options and compare the differences will allow you to avoid an uninformed, hasty decision.
Works Cited
“Comparing Expenses For Living On Campus vs. Off Campus.” Barry University, Barry University, 2020, www.barry.edu/housing/living-on-campus/expenses-living-on-off-campus.html.“Colleges That Require Students To Live On Campus.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 2015, www.washingtonpost.com/apps/g/page/local/colleges-that-require-students-to-live-on-campus/1826/.
Caldwell, Miriam. “Is Living On Or Off Campus Better?” The Balance, The Balance, 26 June 2019, www.thebalance.com/choosing-between-on-and-off-campus-living-options-2386191.
This was really informative, I am going to college next year and it is required that I live on campus for one year but after that it is up to me. On my campus there are university apartments for upperclassman and then you can also find your own apartment completely separate. This article helps list out the main expenses to consider when deciding where to live each year during college in order to save the most money and get the best living situation for your price.
ReplyDeleteThis is really informative sometimes colleges for freshman students give both on campus and off campus and it's really beneficial to know the expenses that go behind the housing situation in order to understand which housing could match your interest. You also did a great job comparing both sides and being informative with the information given to your audience.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that only 17% of schools require on-campus housing for their freshman year!! I would have expected a much higher number because I feel like the dorm-life is an integral experience. Though, I wonder the financial implications of this: is it cheaper to live in a dorm all year vs renting out an apartment? It must all be dependent on where you're going to school and the options available in that location, but it is still an interesting concept. This was a unique, but very relevant post!
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good article about college costs, as most of us will have to deal with college in our near future, and will be faced with this choice shorty. This really demonstrates the economic principle of opportunity cost, giving up the next best option to select one choice, and in this case, it is choosing on-campus housing over off campus, and vice versa.
ReplyDeleteI would have never thought so many schools require on-campus living. To me, that doesn't really make any sense because I would think all students should be given an option every year. This article really makes me think of how my future in college is going to be like. Personally, I feel like I'm going to live on campus almost all years (if nothing changes that).
ReplyDeleteI'm with Manal in that I thought more schools would require first year students to be on campus. Maybe that's in part because my school does... it's a small-ish private school so they're all about ***community*** so living off campus is discouraged even for upperclassmen. This was an interesting read, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWith people going to college it is important that people save money somehow and the choice of going to a college that requires students to stay in their campus is a great idea. You are showing that there will be price changes and allowing kids to think about their choices deeper. You have a great show of comparasian between both, however, the cost of the campus shouldn’t determine everything though. You also need to think about schooling on top of that.
ReplyDeleteI had never really thought about the reasons why some colleges require on-campus living the first year, I'm not sure that requiring this would be that advantageous to the college because I feel as though there is already a staggeringly high proportion of students who live on campus the first year. Whether or not this is required I do not feel would drastically change the number of students who decide to live on campus anyways. This article made me realize maybe people should take this decision more into consideration in terms of cost, and weighing the options.
ReplyDeleteI definitely expected more than 17% of colleges to require students to live on campus for the first year! I think that you should determine how you want to balance your desired living experience with the costs associated with that choice. I think that a lot of freshman do want to live on campus their first year anyway to get a feel for life as a college student and to have more opportunities to meet people, but off campus living options can definitely be more affordable in a lot of cases.
ReplyDeleteI think that this post was very informational and very helpful especially because we are headed to college soon and this is something that we should look into as we make financial decisions. Sometimes living off campus may be cheaper then living on campus, and so by looking into these types of things it may save us money in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI thought the number of colleges that require first year students to live on campus would definitely be higher. I do think that it is important to step back and look at the whole picture and figure out what is going to save you money. I think as all of us get closer to making these decision we should be more exposed to facts and information like this.
ReplyDeleteI haven't really thought that living off campus as a freshman was a possible option. It's crazy to think that it may even be the cheaper option! Do you think that many campuses have housing close enough to them to still be able to get to classes efficiently without a car or transportation during your first year?
ReplyDeleteI hadn't realized the number of colleges requiring first year students to live on campus was so low, 17% is a bit shocking. The college I plan on going to requires me to live on campus the first year but I think I'll continue to do so even after it isn't a requirement. Living on campus seems much more convenient and beneficial in from a socializing angle.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this is a very hard decision to make and can take some time to decide which is better for you financially. As on campus living is usually more expensive and less space, where as a house or apartment you have more space and have a little bit more freedom of what your options are.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! It is hard for lower income families to afford to live on campus. Not only is this a challenging decision to make based upon your life style, but it is also challenging for families to come up with a solution. However, it is refreshing that colleges are slowly decreasing the required number of students to live on campus their first year. It is hard to please everyone especially since everyones situation is so different. This being said, I think colleges should take into account that everyone has a different position that they are dealing with throughout their journey of college.
ReplyDelete-Ellie A
As someone considering living somewhere near the college I choose, this was helpful information and I never considered the idea of living off-campus nearby, for example, in a close apartment complex. I didn't even realize some colleges required living on-campus at all.
ReplyDeleteI agree, this is very hard financial decision to make because it causes to really take an honest look at your financial situation and decided. I find it interesting that many colleges are decreasing the number of students to live on campus their first year, giving students the chance to become more independent and learn more about finances and housing before they are in the real world with a job and are deciding which house or apartment complex is best for them in their different situations.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this can be a hard decision for some people to make. However, I found this article very informative and helpful. Living on campus may be more expensive and less space for you to live in, but it makes everything easier to access. It is important to remember to save money when you are away at college, this is why you need to make the right decision for yourself an your future. Overall, good job with the article
ReplyDeleteLiving on and off-campus is something that I think a lot of college students need to look into, and especially all the possibilities that they have. Expenses are a huge aspect of living on and off-campus, and finding the best situation for you is what's most important. Making the best financial decision is most important, especially in your first year of college when you are most likely not going to have a lot of money. I'm interested to see the statistic about 17% of colleges in America requiring students to live on campus for their first year. I wonder why colleges would put that in place, and what they want to accomplish with this policy. I'm glad you added this statistic because I think it will not only help myself, but other classmates look more into the college they choose and the policy they have regarding living on or off-campus.
ReplyDeleteThere are many different factors that can play a role in the housing you chose when going to college. There are many college students who stay close to home, so then it also calls into question whether they have the option to stay at home to save even more money than renting an apartment. However, it is also fair to consider the college life, and if staying at home will still allow you to have that unique experience and develop more independence. It depends on who the person is and of course the pricing of everything around their college.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading this post I already know the difference between living on and off campus. Most colleges require students to live on campus there freshman year or there second year. Depending on what school you attend. Since, I'm going to UW-Wakuesha i'm going to live at home for two years and when I go to Minnesota i'll either live on or off campus with Mortuary Science students. My dad didn't go to college till he was in his early twenties because he served in the Army for four years and he got an a apartment near campus. When I go to Minnesota in a couple years i'll make the desion to either live on or off campus.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very difficult decision. It is quite ironic that almost all of the colleges I applied to require me to stay on campus for the first two years. However, I have already been thinking about what my college experience will look like after I leave. Hopefully I will be able to find a roommate to cut down on costs.
ReplyDeleteEven thought the costs are a factor to consider, there are more than just economic reasons to live in either one of them. Considering the huge sums of money you are spending to go to college, saving few dollars here and there makes a marginal difference to the overall cost. Your piece is great, but it has one critique: Lack of social differences. In a dorm you are closer to the social life which makes it a fun experience for extroverts but the lack of privacy may be a deal breaker for introverts. Humans are more complex than those sub groups but my point is that there are other factors to consider than money, such as utils(economic currency of utility). Saving some money but not being as satisfied might not be the cheaper option when you consider utility. You may save some money going either route but if you like the college life you should be on campus or if you want more privacy you should live of campus.
ReplyDeleteIn college if they offer on campus living you should take it you're close to the classrooms and you won't be the only one living there so rent isn't a huge worry
ReplyDeleteInteresting article about a very necessary topic. I see a lot of very informative comments so adding to it is not necessary. Instead I will give you some feedback so you can improve the already great essay. First of all there are no costs or any facts other than the 17% of colleges force freshmen to stay in dorms. I think if you can include some facts or a list of prices it could be very helpful. Another thing you did not include are the social benefits, whether someone like being in the center of the action or if they like privacy. There are other benefits as well that were not included and should be to increase the information of the blog such as free gym, etc. Overall its a great piece but can be improved a tad bit.
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