making your move

The Cost of Living On Campus

Over the past 20 years, the price of room and board at both public and private colleges has risen faster than the cost of inflation. If you choose to live on-campus, how can you cut the amount you pay?

1. Purchase the full dining plan (19 on-campus meals per week).
2. Consider sharing living quarters with a group of students.
3. Request a dorm with as many amenities as possible.

“B” is correct. A full dining plan is a waste if you sometimes sleep through breakfast or don’t have a hefty appetite. Save further by living in a group setting, in a dorm room that isn’t located near the heart of campus, or in a space without conveniences like air conditioning. Also ask about campus co-op housing, where students receive lower rent in exchange for a few hours of work each week.