I have to admit I feel jealous of most residences that aren’t my own. I don’t say that out of any unhappiness with the house I live in; my house is great. It’s mainly the explorer in me talking.
Cal Poly Pomona’s many on-campus residence halls all look very nice, especially the new eight-story complex that recently opened. Like all universities, they have their usefulness, especially to students from outside of Los Angeles County.
However, to students within L.A. County, they’re a luxury that really doesn’t need to be taken advantage of – just an extra charge on the student tab.
And that charge can exceed $13,000.
Being a university student is already a serious money pit that puts many young adults at risk of landing in debt for years. Classes cost thousands; textbooks, materials and parking cost hundreds, and commuting can cost just as much depending on how often you travel to and from campus.
To students living within CPP’s commuter zone, living in their own house would be a worthwhile choice. As stated earlier, on-campus housing costs can exceed $13,000. Living off-campus instantly saves that much, significantly reducing the likelihood of landing in debt by the time of graduation and spending a lot of time paying off that cursed debt thereafter.
Sure, on-campus housing quarters look nice due to their general build, layout, meal plans and proximity to classes; however, if a student lives nearby, or at the very least, near a convenient commuter route leading to CPP, it’s a far lower money investment, ultimately making it worth it to stay living at home.
These costs are unfortunately unavoidable to students who must live on-campus due to circumstances such as living far away from CPP or being a freshman out of high school. As intimidating as the cost is, there is still hope. Though financial aid is definitely helpful and was probably the first thing an out-of-town student thought of in making a dent in student debt, restraint is even more potent.
It is unfortunately not possible to be a university student and not have to spend tens of thousands of dollars on education. Costs happen; they’re as certain as death and taxes. But it is possible to keep those costs to a reasonable minimum, or at least low enough that the period of debt repayment is short.
Spend on only what you need to graduate. If you don’t need to live on campus, save that money and stay home. If you do need to live on campus, keep the rest of your academic spending to a minimum. Students aren’t obligated to use every luxury offered to them. In fact, staying away from them can drastically lower accumulated debt.
Although money is made from trees, it doesn’t grow on them. Wherever possible, save your money, kids.