The Cost of Living: Students face choices of on-campus versus off-campus life

By Michael Clemente

            ALBANY, NY, APRIL 19, 2007— A huge issue with students is the rising costs
of attending college.  A large portion of that cost can come from just
living.  Housing and having heat, electricity and food are important if one
expects to do well academically or thrive in any sort of environment.
        Thus the debate was spawned; do you live in the college-provided housing or
seek out apartments on your own?  A couple of variables come into this
equation: the main one being what constitutes a “cost”?
        Factors that contribute to cost are both the tangible ones; money for rent
and bills, food and other necessities; but there are also the intangibles: 
security, safety, comfort, travel time and maintenance.  Students on campus
have a security team patrolling, and for the most part, less travel time
than their commuting counterparts.
        As far as costs go, one commuter student said that she has saved money by
moving off-campus two years ago.  Senior Emily Bruce lived on-campus for two
years first in Lima Hall and then in one of the college houses before moving
off-campus to an apartment on Myrtle Avenue.
        “I chose to live off campus because I knew I would save money,” she said.
“Especially on groceries although I haven’t sat down and done the math
lately.”
        Bruce said that she goes grocery shopping about every other week. She tries
to shop smart when she does though.
         “I sit there with the paper on Sunday morning and clip coupons,” she said.
        But, again, expenses are not the only costs a student contends with in this
argument.  For another student, junior, Meaghan Polson, it’s all about the
social life. She likes to keep up with her crowd of friends and said that
her living decision has nothing to do with the actual dorm rooms themselves.
        “I choose to stay on campus because most of my close friends have chosen to
stay here,” she said. “If they had decided that they wanted to get an
apartment off campus, I most likely would have gone with them.”
        Whether a student chooses to stay in a dorm or look elsewhere, it still
adds to the cost of going to school.  Unless a student is traveling from
their parents’ home, part of college, although it may not appear on their
bill, is living near their school.
        The layers of this debate do not lend themselves to an easy solution. 
There isn’t a clear-cut on versus off campus battle.  There are variables
like different landlords, financial aid, different schools, and even a
difference from one dorm to the next.
        Four Saint Rose students found an agreeable landlord with their apartment
on Hamilton Street. Their lease was for three occupants at $900 a month. 
This did not include any utilities or cable/Internet access.  The landlord
allowed the students to have a fourth roommate that was not listed as an
occupant and left the amount the same.
        Another option that is available to students is an organization called
“college suites.” They provide housing that is a transition between campus
life and apartment dwelling.  They have apartments that include heat,
electricity, and cable and Internet access.
        According to the Director of Residence Life, Chris Oertel, The College of
Saint Rose has a very good relationship with them, inviting them every year
for an off-campus housing fair.
        Nikita Welyzco is a freshman transfer student.  She spent the fall semester
at Western New England College.  In the spring she transferred to The
College of Saint Rose.  She likes it here better.
        “Their dorms were like jail cells,” she said.  “They’re much nicer here.”
That, to her, makes it worth the cost, even though she said that it was
about the same pricetag.
        At Western New England she paid about  $10,000. The cost of room and board
at The College of Saint Rose with a 14-meal plan is $8,558.
        With the addition of Quiznos and Starbucks to the campus, students are able
to use their food points for these outlets.  However, the meals that a
student receives every week, ranging from ten to 14, cannot be used to get
the food at these chain vendors.
        “I think it would be great to use a meal for Quiznos or some of the other
stuff in Camelot Room,” Welyzco said.
        However that is not possible, according to Rich Meigel, Director of Dining
Services.
        “Retail products are much more expensive than the food that is provided by
Aramark,” Miegel said. “And there is a huge difference between what you pay
and what we get.”
        The discrepancy in price and cost has to do with the “middle man.”
        “Who do you make your checks out to?” he said.
        Meigel was, of course, referring to the college as an entity that holds
part of the funds that are collected.
        Whatever the cost, or whomever gets that money one thing remains a
constant.
        “You get what you pay for,” Welyzco said.  “It’s worth it.”