By Stacy Boris
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. — In tough economic times, it is hard to figure out where you can save money. At DVC students tend to move off campus after their sophomore year. Shannon Collins, a junior, recently did just that. The list of expenses that college students have seems endless – tuition fees, housing fees, meal plans, books, and gas – the list goes on. One of the biggest decisions is whether to live on or off campus.
“You can do whatever you want,” said Collins. “A dorm never really feels like home because you know you won’t be there next year.”But depending on how well you control your expenses, it can be cheaper than living in a dorm. The tuition and board fees at DVC for the 2009-2010 school year were $37,628, which includes room, board, and a meal plan.
The following is an example of the monthly expenses per person associated with living off campus with three roommates:
Rent: $265
Cable/Internet: $20
Electric: $25
Food Expenses: $83
Gas: $100
For a ten month lease the expenses above would cost roughly $5000. Add the tuition expense and other fees and you are up to $31,500. However, this number could fluctuate depending on things like how much food you go through, distance traveled and how high you have your thermostat in the winter. By moving off campus you can save $5500.But living off campus is not all fun. Sure you have a kitchen and your own bathroom but the constant expenses can be nerve wracking. The gas expenses of getting to class and the responsibilities that come with having your own place like paying the monthly rent, can add more stress than you save.
Margaret Post, a junior, decided to stay on campus this year and her reason was convenience. “It’s easier to get to class, you don’t have to pay as much for gas, and a lot of people are right here,” said Post.
There are clear benefits of living on campus like laundry facilities, not having to cook your own dinner, plenty of hall activities and having less stuff to move.
Gas: $100
For a ten month lease the expenses above would cost roughly $5000. Add the tuition expense and other fees and you are up to $31,500. However, this number could fluctuate depending on things like how much food you go through, distance traveled and how high you have your thermostat in the winter. By moving off campus you can save $5500.But living off campus is not all fun. Sure you have a kitchen and your own bathroom but the constant expenses can be nerve wracking. The gas expenses of getting to class and the responsibilities that come with having your own place like paying the monthly rent, can add more stress than you save.
Margaret Post, a junior, decided to stay on campus this year and her reason was convenience. “It’s easier to get to class, you don’t have to pay as much for gas, and a lot of people are right here,” said Post.
But convenience has its price. Some of the biggest complaints from the student body have been that the power goes out too frequently, the common rooms and bathrooms are not cleaned regularly and the room quality varies from dorm to dorm.
The question comes down to money or convenience.
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