Public universities are often lauded as affordable alternatives to their private counterparts, but the reality is that these institutions can also engage in predatory practices that negatively impact students' finances. Here are some examples of such practices:
Mandatory On-Campus Housing:
Some public universities require students to live on campus for a certain period, usually their first or second year, in order to receive or maintain their financial aid or scholarships to the "public" university. However, on-campus housing is often priced well above market value, and the conditions more than likely will be subpar. This forces students to pay for living conditions which are often over promised and under delivered and honestly we are tired of it.
Required Meal Plans:
In addition to mandatory on-campus housing, some universities also require students to purchase a meal plan through the institution. These meal plans often have a minimum requirement for swipes or meals per week, which can lead to additional costs for students who do not need or use all of the allotted meals. This can also cause conflict like at my university where they closed down all dining room's Saturday at noon and only kept open the pay to dine options on campus. This is a hidden cost that is not always clear to students when they first enroll.
Semesterly Parking Passes: Many public universities require students to purchase a parking pass in order to park on campus and attend classes. However, these parking passes can be expensive, and the parking lots may still become overcrowded, forcing students to park on the street or in metered parking spaces. In addition, it's common practice for universities to oversell these parking passes, leading to even fewer available spaces for students. To make matters worse, there may be parking enforcement officers who give tickets to students who are unable to find a spot, adding insult to injury. (Parking enforcement is even a driving revenue to some colleges during, a brief accounting 211 case we were reviewing our school's budget and noticed they had brought in nearly 3.5 million dollars on parking fines along over the course of 2017 alone.)
Another example of a predatory policy is the requirement for students to purchase online course access codes. These codes are often necessary to access course materials, submit assignments, and take exams. However, they are frequently sold included with the textbook and can cost upwards ranging from what I've personally had to pay roughly anywhere from $65 -$215 depending on the course. This additional cost can be a burden for students already struggling to pay for tuition and other expenses. Furthermore, these codes are often one-time use only, meaning that they cannot be resold or shared with other students. This eliminates the possibility of buying or selling used textbooks, which can be a cost-saving measure for many students leaving their only option to return it back to the school book store for quite literally pennies on the dollar . These access codes are yet another way for universities to extract money from their students, often under the guise of providing necessary resources for academic success.
Predatory student policies are a growing problem in public universities, and students should be aware of the potential costs associated with attending these institutions. By being informed and proactive, students can make better decisions about their college education and avoid falling into financial traps that can be difficult to escape.
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