What is Room and Board in College? All you need to know has been discussed in this article.
When students consider the total cost of a college education, they may not remember that a college education is not a hefty payment without details to it. Instead, there are various fees that make up the total cost of the fees that are being paid.
Tuition, room, and board are the three biggest expenses students face when paying for their college education.
College room and board is an accommodation with a meal plan for students living on campus. This is an arrangement that affords the students the flexibility to easy and controlled access to food on campus.
Some colleges require freshmen to enrol in room and board during their first or second year of college, but generally, this option is available to all students for four years.
What is Room and Board?
If you’ve ever looked at the cost of college, you’ve probably seen the “room and board” line. But what exactly are you paying for with this fee?
In short, room and board mean accommodation and food. After all, when you go to college as a senior, you need a place to live and eat.
For a lot of students, this accommodation (room) includes an on-campus residence hall or dorm. Usually, this room will have a bed and a table. Students can choose their own room, but they usually have one (or two) roommates.
The term “board” refers to meal plans that can be varied to accommodate the different eating habits of students.
Schools can offer plans that include fixed meals per day, meals per week, or unlimited cafeteria access. For example, a college can have a board program where students earn a fixed number of points at the beginning of the year.
Students then have to plan their daily meal points, but they get enough so they don’t have to worry about running out.
As a motivation for choosing a meal plan, a school may inform students that it is cheaper to buy food with dining points than with real money. Such programs are usually limited to campus dining facilities.
Also Read: Can you use Scholarship Money For Anything?
What is included in Room and Board in College?
When estimating the total cost of college education, it is important to know what is included in the room and board bill.
Net price calculators on college websites often ask students if they plan to live on campus and use a meal plan. The net price calculator shows the total cost, including tuition and fees and room and board, according to the student’s wishes.
The rooms in college usually have the furniture necessary for the student’s comfort. These include a bed, table, chairs, wardrobe and bookshelves. The price also includes utilities such as electricity, heating and internet connection. In contrast, more expensive university accommodation can also include study units, stylish lounges and even gyms.
Schools sometimes offer flexibility in planning meals. For example, students can choose a 7-day full board or only eat lunch and dinner on weekdays.
Some schools also offer unlimited meals, such as the William and Mary State Research University Unlimited Meal Plan, which costs $2,623 per person per semester.
College Room and Board Costs
The median cost for room and board over four years of college is $49,480. the costs vary by state, with the highest average price in Hawaii at $15,358 per year and the lowest in Oklahoma at $9,427 per year.
Section 472 of the Higher Education Act stipulates the acceptable costs of attendance (COA) for all students.
The law defines the types of fees included in the COA, but the amount that will be considered okay for each eligible student is set by the educational institution based on certain criteria.
The COA includes tuition and fees, books, supplies, transportation and other personal expenses, room and board allowances, and other expenses required by the student.
All schools include in their COA a room and board allowance based on the amount each student is reasonably responsible for (Federal Student Aid, 2021).
For the previous academic year, the average price for room and board at a private college is $13,620 and at a public college is $11,950 on average. The total cost of housing and meals depends on the type of campus housing and the meal plan you choose.
At public universities, room and board costs are generally the same for students studying in their state of residence and the ones studying outside their state.
Putting average room and board costs into context, the average single American in the US spends $386.92 per month on food, or $4,643.04 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). It’s money spent on food, which means you have to cook most of the time.
College room and board cost about $4,302 per year or $430.2 per month. As for the cost of the room, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the United States is $929 per month and the average cost of a dorm is $764.8 per month.
Living off campus can be considered more affordable if you can share food and rent costs with roommates. However, this brings additional responsibility, because you have to pay the electricity bills separately and coordinate housing matters with the landlord.
Also Read: Dorm Room Checklist: A Complete College Dorm Packing List
How do you calculate room and board?
As a college student who has received room and board, the cost will be published on their website. However, if you are taking care of your housing and/or food situation, you need to do some research and evaluation.
A good first step is to research typical rents in your campus area. You can check online to see how much you might have to pay.
Your university can also introduce you to students looking after their own accommodation so that you can get the information you need first hand.
So is the food. You can start by calculating your current food budget and then look at the cost of living in the area around your campus.
If you’re moving from Ohio to New York, expect more than what you’re currently paying. However, it can be the same if you move to a place where the cost of living is comparable.
Please note the following:
As you prepare for college, consider enrolling in room and board. Although it can be a little expensive, it can be very convenient and has many advantages. On campus, you can live close to classrooms and the university community, giving you an efficient, immersive university experience. Plus, room and board plans let you relax knowing you’re guaranteed access to all basic housing and food. Thanks to the room and board, the transition to university is just easier!
Does the location of my school affect the price of room and board?
The location definitely affects the market value. When evaluating the cost-effectiveness of on-campus room and board compared to off-campus costs, it’s important to consider the cost of living in the area where your university is located.
The cost of living affects the price of rent and food. So, before you make comparisons, determine the cost of living. It also means that room and board costs will be lower if your chosen college is not in a high-cost-of-living area.
Is living off campus always cheaper?
The truth is that subscribing to room and board is usually more expensive than cooking your own meals and sharing an apartment with other students.
However, campus life has the advantage of having easy access to facilities that can help you with your studies, including on-campus activities. Living with classmates can also help you adjust to university life.
Some colleges require international and out-of-state students freshmen to live on campus. The college obliges students to easily transition to campus life and adapt to university life.
Students are also encouraged to live on campus so they can easily integrate and participate in the school community.
Students living on campus are also more likely to participate in clubs and study groups. Living on campus also eliminates the hassle of transportation, which can interfere with your classes. When you live and eat on campus, you pay more for convenience.
Compared to on-campus students, off-campus students also pay utility bills, which are often included in the room and board on-campus college students pay.
Some schools even offer cleaning and laundry services to students living on campus, allowing students to focus on their studies while in college.
Also Read: Federal Government Scholarship for Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Frequently asked questions about Room and Board in College
The frequently asked questions and answers below will provide you with more information on room and board in college.
Can a scholarship cover room and board?
Each scholarship has its own conditions, so there is no easy answer to this question. However, many scholarships have the possibility to cover the costs of room and board.
Pell Grants can be used to pay for tuition or room and board, so if your studies are fully paid for and you receive a scholarship, you can always use the Pell Grant for housing.
Do I have to pay for room and board if I live at home?
The good news is that if you live at home, you don’t have to pay for room and board! While some colleges offer you the option to pay for meals through their meal plans, this is rarely required. That way, you’ll save a lot of money at home—perhaps more than $10,000 a year.
Does room and board in college include meals?
From the information in this article, you will know that the answer to this question is a YES. The room is the price of your accommodation and the board is what your meals will cost. Some colleges always combine the two, while others may only allow one of them.
In a situation like this, you yourself are responsible for either cooking your own food or paying for your accommodation.
