Key points
- At many colleges, room and board now cost much more than tuition.
- Sending a student to live on campus to receive higher education should be seen as a luxury and not a necessity.
- Living at home can significantly reduce your overall college expenses.
When families talk about the high cost of college, tuition tends to dominate the conversation. But for many students, Tuition fees are not the biggest expense. Bed and board costs, which cover housing and meals, often make up the majority of the bill.
Even at the most expensive colleges ranked by tuition, room and board add up to a significant price tag.
Recent data show that at public four-year colleges, room and board now account for about 45% of total expenses, while tuition and fees make up less than 36%. in San Diego State University (SDSU)a popular in-state option, tuition is only 25% of the total cost of attendance if you include on-campus living. Meanwhile, housing and food make up more than 62%.
Let’s look at some raw numbers using SDSU as an example:
- In-state tuition: $9,180
- Out-of-state tuition: $13,320
- Room and board: $23,736
It is also important to note that SDSU requires students who are not in the service area to live on campus for two years. It can really add up!
This gap raises a difficult question: Is living on campus worth the price, especially if you’re going into debt?
A closer look at the numbers
The average cost of tuition at in-state public colleges is about $9,750. Average room and board rate is $12,302, based on 2025 data from Education Data Initiative. Combined, these two items total more than $22,000 per year, not including books, transportation or other fees.
As for private, non-profit colleges, the story is reversed. Tuition and fees are higher, around $38,421, while the average cost of room and board is $13,842. This means that tuition fees dominate the cost structure, making up nearly two-thirds of the total. However, private, nonprofit colleges are known for their very generous aid packages, such as Harvard University, which offers free tuition to families with incomes under $200,000.
At public two-year colleges, students living on campus may see room and board costs nearly double their tuition. But it also makes sense since the cost of community college is usually very low, or even free.
Out-of-state students see slightly better percentages due to higher tuition, but housing and meals still account for a large share. And let’s face it: out-of-state tuition at many schools is 2 to 4 times higher than in-state tuition.
Is living on campus a necessity or a luxury?
For many families, the idea of ”going to college” feels like a rite of passage. But it is a lifestyle choice rather than a need. Living on campus may bring social benefits or convenience, but it can significantly increase the cost of earning a degree.
The truth is, you’re paying for an experience – just like you pay for an experience on vacation. The educational goal of the college is to obtain a bachelor’s degree. This can be achieved without having to live in expensive university housing – by living at home, choosing a community college or local state school, or perhaps sharing an apartment locally.
If you are paying for university housing as an “add-on”, the question becomes: Can you bear it? You wouldn’t (or better yet, not) finance a Disney World vacation you couldn’t afford for several years, so why finance a hotel for your child for several years?
Again, if you have enough money and can afford it, go wherever you want. But if you have student loan debt, you can’t send your child to live in the dorms. This is a particularly important message for parents, who end up borrowing the bulk of the cost.
When room and board account for more than half the cost of college, it raises important questions. Can the student live at home and move around? Can they choose a local college or community college for the first two years? In many cases, families may stretch their budgets or take out student loans to pay for what are essentially luxury expenses.
What families should consider
With college costs rising and student loan debt rising, it’s important to question assumptions. Tuition fees often get the attention, but the real shock may come from housing and meal plans.
Families should evaluate the total cost of attendance, not just tuition. In some cases, a college with high tuition may actually be less expensive if students can live at home. Others may want to reconsider the need for a traditional on-campus experience, especially in the first or second year. Instead of funding your child’s party for four years, could this money be better spent buying them a house? These are real trade-offs to consider before you rack up too much debt.
Room and board isn’t just a cost…it’s a decision. And in today’s university economy, it deserves as much scrutiny as any other part of the bill.
Don’t miss these other stories:
No Student Loan Colleges: What to Know and Things to Avoid
The 30 most expensive colleges in 2025
Can you pay for college with a credit card?
Editor: Colin Greaves
The post Hidden Expenses Drive Up College Costs: Room and Board appeared first on The College Investor.
