College tuition in the United States is far too expensive for students who just want a good education. Housing and meals on campus cost thousands of dollars each semester. Students are expected to adapt a healthy lifestyle and eat well in college, but food is constantly overpriced with limited options. I remember going to a dining hall because I wanted to buy some fruit, but immediately turning around when I realized a small cup of less than 10 grapes cost $4. Even a small organic granola bar the size of my palm cost around $5. Colleges jack up prices at every opportunity because they know students have to eat and drink on campus. There are several cafes and dining halls set up around campus for students to conveniently stop by to grab coffee, a small snack, breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Each purchase is almost done without thinking because students just have to hand over a card to be swiped. During midterms and finals, it's even easier and more likely for students to spend money on snacks and coffee to get through the day or week. Long hours studying in the library or other quiet areas equates to buying food and drinks nearby that are over priced. Colleges capitalize on the end of the semester as well to sell food in bulk for students who still have meal swipes and money left over that they need to spend. Students end up spending more than they need to because they use their remaining meal swipes they had already paid for to purchase items with higher prices than usual.
With the number of places to get food and drinks, you would think that they would be conveniently open every day for students on campus. Think again. Most of the options in the dining halls are closed on the weekends. The cafes are closed on the weekends, so students who are studying in those areas have no place to get coffee or snacks. Even the Starbucks on campus is closed on the weekends. The closest option for students to get coffee is off campus miles away. The school should be considerate to students studying on the weekends who need caffeine readily accessible and available.
Students are also required to pay full tuition to attend college and get an education, unless financial aid is available to them. Freshmen and some sophomores are the only students who are required to have a meal plan on campus. Those who are able to live off campus or live in residencies that include a kitchen can save money by not having a meal plan. The nicer apartments on campus do tend to cost more. Some students pay more to live in an apartment with a kitchen, but still decide to pay extra for a meal plan on campus. However, I have friends without a meal plan living in an apartment that have said buying groceries every week and spending some of their own money in dining halls on campus turns out to be a lot cheaper than paying for the college's meal plan. Once upperclassmen move off campus, paying rent for their own houses is still cheaper than paying for housing through the college. Colleges take advantage of the underclassmen who have no choice but to pay for the ridiculously over priced "luxuries" on campus. Students can save more than ten thousand dollars just by living off campus and paying for their own meals.
Hey colleges, please be more affordable. Or at least try to meet the needs of thousands of students. All we really want is food, coffee and maybe even a college education.
