33 Some People Got to Have It

March 12, 2004

Photos courtesy of vectorstock.com, lachmanconsultants.com, alamy.com

By: Jessica Scroppo Assistant Editor

“Where is the university putting all our money?” This question from 2004 is still relevant 18 years later in 2022. Although most universities are usually responsible enough to provide records on where our tuition payments go, there is still a sense of mystery and nondisclosure around the topic.

Today, the average cost of yearly tuition at the University of St. Francis is $35,000 according to www.stfrancis.edu. This is without scholarships or adding the cost of room and board. If you’re wanting the full college experience of living in a boxy dorm, that could add up to $13,000 a year to your total. In the year 2004, dated on the accompanying article, tuition was $8,240. The rate of inflation skyrocketing with each passing year does not change the fact that college tuition rates are not what they used to be in many ways.

Does earning a college degree mean you should accrue thousands and thousands of dollars in debt, including a hefty amount of interest? To some, maybe. To others, it’s a hard pass. Like many of us today, and our writer from 2004, we would not be here without loans or scholarships to help us. It’s not just that. When going to college, you aren’t going to pay the tuition and be set for the year. There are numerous additional costs that come back to bite you.

The fees added to classes are what supplement our needs as students. Is this true, or is it a way to milk students for all they’re worth? In my experience on the Fourth Floor of Tower in the Communication Department, I have seen firsthand that funds are there to pay for all the little things. We get new cameras, mouse pads, hard drives and our ink and paper paid for. If I wasn’t using these things, I might be more against class fees. However, I make sure to get my money’s worth. Books are another cost that weigh heavy on students that are paying their way through college. The cheapest books are used and rented. Sometimes, that’s not an option, and they’re all out at the bookstore. Then what? Time to splurge on a pile of new books that you’ll use for the semester and never touch again. The only encouraging factor is that online bookstores or Amazon can help you find cheap options that won’t break the bank.

Since I’m on the commuter side of things, let’s talk parking passes. It is very difficult to find a spot, and most times I end up parking on the side of the street. Is a parking pass crazy expensive? No, I can spare the $50. However, it feels like I’m paying $50 a year to park on the side of the road and take a hike before and after school. All in all, this is a small price to pay, and as University of St. Francis sophomore, Saba Aamir, states, “Being a commuter saves me money because I don’t have to pay for other expenses like room and board, a meal plan and more, other than my tuition.”

Quoting the 2004 "Money, Money, Money" article, who is making the killing here? The most recent Form 990 in 2020 states that there was a total revenue of $75,136,553 for the University of St. Francis. Expenses were quoted at $74,207,049. According to www.projects.propublica.org, 93.6% of the total revenue went towards program services, 31.2% went towards salaries and wages and 1.8% towards executive compensation.

I’m not the most knowledgeable about the financial aspect of things. However, it is odd to me that it seems we are always dealing with a “tight budget,” and many things throughout the school go without being updated. Can everything be picture perfect? I don’t expect it to be, but if the school can’t afford it, what makes them think we’re able to?