I have had a few online classes prior to the COVID-19 crisis, and it was always more money than in-person classes, which confused me. After taking a year and a half off of college and planning to go back this fall, I was excited to be taking classes again. In person, that is. I missed being on a college campus. I missed having face-to-face lectures.

For me personally, I've always done a lot better when I'm physically in a classroom learning the course material. I think a lot of other college students can say the same thing. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has made it difficult for colleges to return to normal, in-person classes. Which I totally get, we don't want to risk it. With that said, even though most, if not all, classes are now online, colleges aren't changing their tuition and fees.

So let's break it down in relation to my school, the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. The tuition and fees total for in-state residents is about $12,186 (full-time) and for out-of-state students is about $34,218 (full-time). That amount can vary depending on what school you're in at UHM. Also, add textbooks on to that. Maybe housing (if you even got a spot this year...). Pretty large amount, right?

As a student that isn't associated with any of the colleges on campus (yet), I will be paying about $1,413 per 3-credit class. That would be all fine and dandy IF most of my classes didn't get transferred over to online. Is it really necessary to have students pay almost $1.5k for a Zoom class? Definitely not. I can't even imagine how out-of-state students feel. For a single, 3-credit class, they have to pay at least $4,167. WHAT?! I have read a lot of students say, "I'm paying so much money just to sit at home," and honestly, that's upsetting. We have a right to be upset.

Out of the tuition and fees amounts above, the fees themselves are roughly around $441 (for me, it may be different for others). That doesn't seem TOO much compared to the total costs, right? Well here's why that number is ridiculous for students to pay for this fall.

UHM feesAbbey Macias

Above is the list of fees that I have added on to my tuition. What's ridiculous about it is there are things on here I know I won't be utilizing because of the fact I won't be on campus except for ONE day for ONE class.

Like, do I really have to pay for the UPASS (a bus pass). I have a car, I won't need to take public transportation, and nor would I want to with COVID-19 going on. Listen, I understand some students don't have a car and actually will use the bus system, but for students like myself, we should be able to opt out of that. Another fee I know I won't be using is the health center. Again, I won't be on campus, so why would I need to pay $118 for that? Something else they should allow students to opt out of. Also, the rec center? I won't be using that, if it will even be open in the fall.

Colleges, including UH Mānoa, need to figure out what to do about tuition and fees because it's not appropriate to have students paying so much money to sit at home. I understand teachers still need to get paid, but it's not like we are using the facilities on campus. No single college online course should be $4,167, let alone $1,413, like ever. Hopefully we will see some colleges across our country realizing this and adjusting these costs accordingly.