Having to balance the costs of tuition while having to pay for basic amenities as a college student is an unnecessary financial burden. ORACLE PHOTO / JEANELLE HENDERSON
I remember the day I committed to USF and had to place my nonrefundable $200 deposit to secure my spot.
After calculating the real cost with my parents, I realized that tuition, housing and meal plans were an estimated $18,750 just for my first year.
Now on campus, I also have to pay for laundry to do, buy textbooks for my classes and pages to print. What I wasn’t prepared for was how many basic parts of college life would come with an additional cost, paid directly out of my own pocket.
College is already expensive as is, and these additional costs make the numbers continue to go up.
The average cost of attending college has more than doubled since the 21st century and the average in-state cost of attending and living in a public 4-year university is $28,349, according to the Education Data Initiative.
The rising cost of tuition and everyday expenses is making it harder for students to afford college. As these costs continue to increase, universities need to recognize the financial challenges students face and take steps to make higher education more affordable.
Things as simple as printing have become a hassle I didn’t know I had to prepare for. Although I receive three dollars for printing per day, the numbers quickly add up. After three weekly stops to the printing station at the library, I still need to pay out of pocket at times.
My weekends also consist of weekly Sunday resets to clean and do my laundry.
Every laundry day, I spend $1.50 per load. On days where I have to wash sheets and towels in addition to my clothing, I often reach a total of 4 loads. This can quickly add up to $10 for just one day of laundry.
Miranda Laguna, a freshman mass communications major, shares her ongoing frustrations with these demands.
“I genuinely have so much disdain towards paying for amenities, specifically laundry,” Laguna said. “It makes me question whether the university cares more about its students or the cash that is in their pockets.”
Textbooks have also become one of the more severe expenses. Prices have risen approximately three times the rate of inflation, according to the Education Data Initiative.
“I was really shocked by the price of food and textbooks. Why am I paying over $50 bucks to rent an online book?” said Laguna.
Textbooks are often a syllabus requirement for classes, only for them to be used just a few times. With students taking an average of 5 classes per semester, this can become another unnecessary cost.
I have had to purchase six different textbooks for just four classes— not including additional payments for online platforms used in the class. In total, the fee has neared over $200.
Niya Lewis, a junior political science major, said these prices put college students onto additional strains on top of academic pressure.
“Many students work overtime to try to catch up with all the expenses,” Lewis said. “I am one of the students working to pay for extra expenses. Prices have just been rising and the only way to keep up is to make more of it.”
Trying to balance both studies and finances becomes a real struggle. Especially for services that are sometimes not in the best state or are difficult to use.
Like the numerous times I’ve had to wait because there were no laundry machines available or they were out of service.
Talia Friedman, a freshman mass communications major, shares her similar experiences.
“It is an inconvenience to spend money on a service that’s not always available or in good condition,” Friedman said.
Additionally, the school supplies sold at the USF bookstore cost about three times more than if they were bought in a public store. It makes me rather wait to buy supplies I need elsewhere.
Even USF merchandise including hoodies and sweatshirts near $100 per item.
I find myself window shopping more often than purchasing any of their apparel because of the exaggerated prices found every time I walk into the bookstore.
“This personally affects me because these extra costs make it harder to manage my money as a college student. It also affects students who may already have a tight budget making basic necessities more difficult to afford,” said Friedman.
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Although the stresses of balancing costs can be overbearing, I have found ways to help keep track of the money I spend on different areas of my life.
On Bulls Connect, the #HowToCollege: Budgeting As A Bull workshop is happening on November 18th along with several other events throughout the semester by the Bull Financial Education.
These workshops teach students practical tips for creating a budget, understanding how to properly spend, and making money work for you as a USF student.
The Office of Financial Aid is also available for all Bulls in need of scholarship dates, grants, financial aid, budgeting calculators and other resources to assist students financially.
Budgeting can help students manage their money, but it can only go so far when everyday costs continue to add up. I can plan my spending, buy supplies elsewhere and limit unnecessary purchases, but I cannot budget away a required textbook or a $1.50 laundry load.
While these concerns might seem like small expenses, it quickly adds up for many students.
No one should have to choose between paying for tuition and housing and, at the same time, having enough money for basic necessities. College is already a major financial commitment, and students should be able to focus on their education without feeling like every basic necessity comes with another unreasonable price tag.