Pricing Homes

As Main Campus housing rates rise, students should explore alternative options.

It’s important for students to keep price tags in perspective and to always consider their options as University Housing proposes to raise the cost of student housing by 4.25 percent in the upcoming academic year.

This week Valerie Rubinsky explained in “Rates for university housing expected to increase in 2011-12,” Page 2, that the proposed increase would come to an average annual increase of $264 for students planning to live in Johnson and Hardwick residence halls or Peabody residence hall, $282 for students living in James S. White Hall or 1940 residence hall, $284 for suite-style residents in 1300 residence hall, $318 for apartment-styles in 1300 and $318 for Temple Towers.

According to the University Housing budget proposal for the 2011-12 academic year, Temple ranks second for lowest total cost of room and board for student housing out of 10 area schools, with a current room and board price of $9,006 per year.

Penn State University’s room and board totals $8,384 per year, the University of Pittsburgh’s room and board costs $9,230 per year, Villanova University’s is $9,690 a year, the University of Delaware’s is $9,894 per year, La Salle University’s is $10,500 a year, Rutgers University is $10,766 a year, the University of Pennsylvania’s room and board costs $11,430 a year, St. Joseph’s University is $11,974 a year and Drexel University, at the highest in the area, is $13,125 a year for room and board.

Temple is different than many other universities in that most students often live off campus after their first year, either due to choice or limited student housing. Off-campus housing in the area is equally important to consider when evaluating the cost of student housing.

Although the university’s room and board is nowhere near as expensive as Drexel’s, The Temple News encourages students to be responsible consumers and look into all available off-campus housing options, which is oftentimes much cheaper with more freedoms afforded than a 1300 suite-style dorm room.

Last semester, Brian Dzenis [“Housing stirs development,” Dec. 7] examined factors students consider when deciding to venture off of Main Campus for housing. No matter where students choose to live while at Temple, it will always be necessary to do some research in order to find reasonably-priced housing. Students should always remember to consider alternatives before rolling their eyes at the housing bill.