Being broke is a common stereotype for us college students. In most cases, this stereotype reigns true with many of us living paycheck to paycheck and feeling the constant stress of finances. I believe that without the extremely high cost of course materials, housing and tuition we wouldn’t be in such a bad situation. I feel that almost all things related to college should be more affordable.

High costs of university expenses cause major stress and anxiety. Nearly every four-year student has some kind of debt stacked up before the end of their college experience. If the cost of college and materials were cheaper, I think the number of students with debt would be drastically decreased. I can attest to the anxiety that having future debt gives students.

I personally worry about my future and the financial burden my student debt might cause me. Students worry not only about debt, but also semester bills they don’t take out loans for. I’ve had friends cry over expenses and wonder how they’re going to pay. Not every student has the benefit of financial aid– they have to pay their bills immediately. While many students do barely manage to pay, there’s still a large number of students who end up dropping out because they cannot afford the cost of college. 

Without expenses for college students being lowered, talented students who earned their spot at their respective universities have to pack up and leave because they cannot afford extreme charges. Some students might not feel confident financially to apply for certain higher-ed institutions, meaning very talented individuals are discouraged to pursue academic goals they’ve dreamed of. By lowering the cost of tuition we could open up more opportunities for these students to pursue their academic prowess. In a perfect world, I’d even go as far as to argue that tuition should be free for all students who meet academic requirements and were accepted into a university. 

Without the cost of tuition students can have a better chance at focusing on their education. In my opinion, here at Grand Valley State University, housing is already packed to the brim. Most students who weren’t quick enough to secure housing for the following school year find themselves living off campus. The stress of having to pay rent and utilities is already damaging to students enough, but with added tuition on top of that, it’s even worse; however, even on-campus housing can be pricey.

To combat these financial struggles, some may suggest students work more to pay off debt and bills, but the reality is that sometimes this option is not applicable to everyone’s situation. Having time for a job can be a double-edged sword, as you’re able to make money but you might not have time for clubs or a full-time schedule. Dropping to anything lower than a full-time schedule can cause issues with financial aid, which would just cause more financial stress. Similarly, leaving activities can hurt a student’s resume or potential outreach opportunities. 

Getting a job may also be difficult due to limited opportunities. Students might find it difficult to secure an on-campus job due to the competitive nature of student employment. If you don’t want an on-campus job, going off campus can be difficult. GVSU is located in the small town of Allendale and finding jobs within a close range of the University can be difficult. Students usually have to travel to neighboring cities like Walker, Grand Rapids or Grandville to find jobs. Travel accessibility can be tough for students and those with a car may find traveling 20-50 minutes for a job to be troublesome. 

I think that lowering costs of tuition, housing, course materials and other college expenses would have a positive effect on students’ experiences and mental health. College is already difficult without the extra costs and it’d be helpful to give students one less thing to worry about.