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SHOCKING NEW REPORT: College Meal Plans Now Cost Students an ASTOUNDING $5,656 A YEAR!
Tens of Thousands of Dollars Down the Drain! Students are getting RIPPED OFF as college meal plans soar to staggering new heights—making them one of the priciest expenses that students face alongside tuition and housing.
According to a jaw-dropping analysis by Education Loan Finance (ELFI), the cost of eating on campus has now hit an average of $5,656! This shocking increase tracks with government stats indicating that meal plans at public colleges were already at a hefty $5,400 last school year. Private colleges? Brace yourselves! Expectations are even higher, with average charges skyrocketing beyond $6,200!
Cost of Living Out of Control: Students Deserve BETTER!
As tuition and dorm fees continue their relentless climb, students and their families are SCREAMING for relief from the financial strain. The overall cost of college is more outrageous than ever, prompting doubts about whether a degree is actually worth the skyrocketing price tag! And just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, new changes to financial aid have further complicated an already terrifying landscape.
Meal Plans: A Ticking Time Bomb of Expenses!
You might think skipping that pricey meal plan could save some cash, but think again! A staggering 98% of colleges make it MANDATORY for first-year students to pony up for a meal plan! Who’s in charge here? Students are forced into an unwanted financial burden—even if they suspect they’re not getting their money’s worth!
Here’s the kicker: Many schools offer ZERO refunds on unused meal swipes or dining dollars! Leftover funds? You can kiss them goodbye at the end of the academic year! Students pay full price upfront, padding the universities’ pockets while they feast on leftover crumbs.
The Hidden Truth: Are You Really Getting Your Money’s Worth?
Breaking it down, that shocking $5,656 expense amounts to a jaw-dropping $622 a month! Just think of the perfectly good food you could buy outside campus for far less! For instance, the USDA suggests a moderate diet would cost only around $3,424 annually for male students. That’s a whopping 39% less!
Even the so-called “liberal” spending estimates from the USDA are still cheaper than what most colleges charge! While meal plans offer convenience—no grocery shopping or cooking—students are still left scraping their pockets bare to secure a paltry meal.
The Bottom Line: It’s Time for Students to RISE UP!
As college meal plans continue to inflate like a balloon about to burst, students need to demand drastic changes NOW! The narrative of insatiable college costs must change! Remember—every dollar counts when you’re scrambling to graduate without drowning in debt! Don’t let your college eat up all your hard-earned cash!
photo credit: money.com
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