The Students’ Price To Pay

Santa Clara must battle rising costs on campus as admissions skyrocket

A glazed donut from Benson makes for a soul-satisfying treat amidst the stress of midterms or finals. Though convenient to grab after a particularly rough math quiz, the cost sits at $2.44, over a dollar more than the industry average. However, the price for the same snack was $2.19 last year. The 35-cent difference, while negligible for most, is still an unexpected gouge in price for a measly pastry. 

Benson’s donut isn’t the only part of on-campus life to experience the effects of inflation. These changes indicate a need for university-wide concern over the rising costs of food, tuition and housing. The most concerning aspect of these price gouges is the steadily increasing housing cost. A standard double room in a Santa Clara residence hall is $18,060 for the current academic year but will increase to $18,984 for those on the preferred dining plan for 2023-2024. That’s a $924 hike, and the increase is similar across all room styles. 

This is a price most college students cannot realistically afford amidst already high tuition, textbook and food costs. Student budgets are limited and currently reflect a stage of economic insecurity impacted by rising costs and layoffs. 

With Santa Clara reinstating the two-year residency requirement for the class of 2025, it is the university’s job to make housing affordable and accommodating for every student.  

Even tuition is increasing from an annual $56,880 to $58,587–a $1,707 leap. The odds seem stacked against college students when they have to stress over how to afford these soaring costs in the midst of layoffs, uncertainty and academics. 

“Rising admission” was cited by the housing administration as a reason for rising tuition and housing costs. With over 18,839 applications for the class of 2027, a 13% increase from last year, Santa Clara is earning a pattern of more applications and more students–meaning more people paying. So why is the cost of attendance increasing? 

Even as Santa Clara attracts more students, the availability of on-campus housing is decreasing as the price is increasing. With costs in the already expensive Bay Area, a housing crisis much like last year’s shortage at University of California campuses seems to be looming in the distance. UC students were sleeping overnight on campus, in trailers and in cars, leaving them embarrassed of their financial situation and anxious about the future. 

College students should not have to worry about where they’ll be sleeping, how they’ll afford their meals and the rising interest rates on thousands of dollars worth of loans when they should be able to focus on their education. 

It seems that there is no remedy to inflation, the influx of students and the costs to house them. Why isn’t the university doing more to achieve a balance, especially when it comes at the expense of the mental, physical and financial well-being of students? It should not be our financial burden to bear the consequences of increasing admissions. 

For the upcoming class of 2027, Preview Weekend is a facade of sun and smiling faces built to hide the emotional storm of rising costs and uncertainties about future housing. Santa Clara should not admit more students if doing so jeopardizes the futures of thousands of current students.