Students at Grand Valley State University have noticed price discrepancies between fast-food restaurants near campus and those not located by a college.
Restaurants, under independent ownership, set their own prices, meaning costs can fluctuate despite having the same menu items. Chains like Dairy Queen, Taco Bell and McDonald’s, which all have locations near campus, have price gaps across the country. This had led students to observe they’ve been paying more at the Dairy Queen on Lake Michigan Drive compared to other locations in West Michigan.
In Allendale, a large blizzard from Dairy Queen is $7.99, in Holland the same size costs $6.99 and in Grandville, the blizzard sells for $6.79, despite being in close proximity. For larger college towns within the state, namely Lansing and Ann Arbor, a large blizzard costs $8.49.
In May, Dairy Queen made a public statement on the social media app X regarding the discrepancies, linking the company’s questions and concerns form.
“We’re sorry we’ve disappointed you,” the statement read. “The independent franchise operators of each restaurant ultimately determine the pricing of Dairy Queen products.
McDonald’s and Taco Bell, two restaurants popular with students, have also been known to have price differences. Taco Bell’s Crunchwrap Supreme, which is roughly the same price across the state, is 50 cents more in Lansing and Ann Arbor than in Allendale, Holland and Kalamazoo. A Fox affiliate out of Cleveland, Ohio reported last year that the most expensive Crunchwrap Supreme in the country was in New Jersey for $8.49. Meanwhile, the cheapest is in Big Spring, Texas with a price of $3.39– a nearly five dollar difference for the same item.
GVSU psychology student Nora Schaafsma, who has experience working in food service, said that changes in pricing over the years and at varying locations has been hard on both customers and employees.
“I worked at a fast food restaurant for a very long time,” Schaafsma said. “Within the past couple years prices have astronomically jumped from what they were. It takes me by surprise because they don’t really tell you until the day of or the day before the price change and then you have guests and people mad at you because the prices have changed.”
Franchises are able to capitalize on independent locations being priced differently, yet many students have less disposable income for eating out, even at locations that traditionally are considered cheaper. GVSU biology student Alexis Brown commented on the price of fast-food restaurants near the University.
“College students are known to not have as much income, so it’s just unfortunate,” Brown said.
