By Ayana Bessard, Staff Writer

Published Aug. 20, 2014

It’s that time of year again, and if you’re like any other college student you’ve most likely spent the last week making last minute buys and staying up until two in the morning stuffing as much as you can into suitcases and boxes.

The freshmen can’t sleep because they have no idea what the new world they’re about to walk into is like, and the seniors are just ready to enjoy their last year of college and enter the real world.

But, no matter the situation you’re in, we can all agree that there is really only one thing that can take away from the excitement of the beginning of a college school year: money.

It’s definitely important that you have at least a bachelor’s degree if you want to get a job in the U.S. now.

Also, it’s advised that you have a master’s or PhD if you want to get a really good job.

Obviously, all of us understand that education is important, especially on the collegiate level.

The problem is that it’s just getting harder to obtain this necessary education when you have to pay an entire life’s savings for it.

Since my second year of school here at UNCG in 2012, tuition has risen and fees have been increased.

Typically, it’s about a ten percent raise.  On its face, this doesn’t sound like much, but when you increase the cost every year the numbers start to become a little overwhelming.

These loans and the interest that accompanies them have to be paid back, which has the potential to create a tremendous amount of stress for students ready to embark on the new school year.

We already have to buy books, which can end up costing you anywhere between five and six hundred dollars. 

Not to mention, the extensive universtiy fees that seem to sap every penny out of your wallet.

While talking to Jeronica Alston, a senior at UNCG, about the insanely high cost of college, she mentioned that living off-campus helped her out a little bit. “I moved off campus after my first year, and I realized how much money I saved,” she said. “I’m spending less, and although I’m a couple of minutes away, I’m still on campus all of the time.”

Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s extremely important to get the experience of living on campus in a dorm or suite with others while in college. 

But has anyone noticed how much more expensive it is to live off campus?

Well, just in case you’re unaware, let me give you a few numbers. The average apartment around UNCG tends to range between $400 and $550 per month to rent. 

To provide a more specific example, Campus Crossing, according to their website, costs a whopping $470 per month for a 4 bedroom/4 bathroom apartment.  That means that a 12-month lease will cost a total $5,520. 

And if you want to live in Jefferson Suites or the Quad, then be prepared to pay between $6,128 and $6,540. 

To put this in context, a double room in Weil/Winfield, according to the Housing and Residence Life website, costs only $4,800 for both semesters. 

This makes sense because, well, who really wants an extended stay in a double room with a bathroom shared for the entire hall?

But there’s a catch, because if you live on campus you are required to have a meal plan. 

If you choose to buy the plan most commonly purchased by freshmen living on campus, then you could add another $1600 per semester to your bill!

Now, let me be clear, this isn’t meant to discourage anyone from attending UNCG. 

In fact, our school is significantly cheaper than many other comparable institutions. 

However, it should outrage us all that we’re paying so much for an education that has almost become a necessity to achieving real-world success. 

So, I urge you to take your time and carefully look at all possible routes to save you from the ridiculous costs associated with college.