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The annual expenditure for new students in many public universities in California has exceeded 50,000 yuan. The main reason is not tuition, but the rising costs of dormitory and off-campus housing. In response, schools are accelerating the construction of affordable dormitories.
this yearberkeley Increase” rel=”155062″>UC Berkeley (UC Berkeley) announced that tuition and fees, plus room and board for new students is 54,674 yuan; Tuition fees at UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine also exceeded 50,000 yuan.
The New York Times reported that he graduated in the 1960sCalifornia University alumni do not have to pay any tuition fees, but they may be in for a surprise if they now plan to fund their grandchildren’s tuition.
The figure of 50,000 yuan per year is undoubtedly a big blow to families who thought that public universities were cheap. Although some students can get financial aid, and the prices in California are high, the main reason for the four-year cost reaching 200,000 yuan (more than 300,000 yuan for foreign students) is actually the high cost of housing. Nowadays, university hostel rents cost more than tuition fees.
The fundamental reason behind skyrocketing accommodation fees is the housing crisis. Taking UC Santa Barbara as an example, the school only guarantees dormitories for undergraduate students for two years. Since the school is surrounded by an airport and the sea on three sides, land expansion is limited, and the supply of housing inside and outside the school is severely imbalanced. Students are forced to live in rented houses in nearby Isla Vista.
In Isla Vista, landlords greatly dominate the market. In popular apartments such as Breakpoint and Coronado, the monthly rent for a single bed in a two-bedroom apartment is 1,336.65 yuan, and even the waiting list for autumn 2027 is full. Local landlords already took advantage of opaque information and the imbalance of supply and demand to start rental price wars.
Nicole Meng (transcription), student director of the Blum Center, which focuses on poverty, inequality and democracy, said many low-income students or the first in their families to attend college face pressure to raise a large deposit and buy a home at age 18. Jasmine Hsieh, vice president of the Associated Students of UC Santa Barbara (transliteration), clearly stated that students have no choice in housing and just want to find a place to live to continue their studies.
After decades of losing the housing market to off-campus landlords, the UC system is trying to regain control in a crisis. UC Berkeley spokesman Kyle Gibson said the school is increasing supply by building new dormitories; UC Santa Barbara Vice President Willie Brown also explained that rents for the school’s new dorms will be much lower than off-campus prices, thereby keeping market prices below par.
In addition to California, the top public universities in Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Colorado also have in-state student spending exceeding $40,000. Experts suggest that parents and students should take the initiative to inquire about the school’s housing security policy when visiting schools, and use school selection pressure to urge public universities to accelerate the construction of affordable dormitories so that excellent students have no worries.
Summary FAQ
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Although some students may receive subsidies, what really increases the total four-year expenses are high accommodation fees and rent. Nowadays, hostel fees in many schools have exceeded tuition fees, making public universities that were originally considered cheap, quite expensive.
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UC Santa Barbara is surrounded by the ocean on three sides and is bordered by an airport. It is difficult to expand the campus. The school only guarantees accommodation for the first two years of university. Therefore, large numbers of students flocked to nearby Isla Vista to rent houses, creating an imbalance between supply and demand and driving up rents.
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The school said it is increasing supply through new dormitories and expects market prices to be lower, with rents lower than off-campus prices. Experts suggest that parents and students actively inquire about housing guarantees when choosing a school, forcing schools to accelerate the construction of affordable hostels.
