wis75

Different areas of the country have different costs. At UW-Madison the dorm students can use money put into their dorm account- as little or as much as they want. Anyone can eat in the dorm food service areas, others use their campus cash accounts or pay cash- prices are ala carte and since the cost of rooms includes the dining halls et al subsidy the prices are cheapest using the dorm account. Food service includes meals, snack bar, convenience store and carryout/delivery of pizza and subs into the night- they say the average student spends a bit over $1000 per year. Of course this doesn't include any Union or off campus food. Leftover funds are either refunded (to the student, of course, even if parents put the money in) or rolled over to the campus account if a small amount. And the food is good. Cases of gatorade and snacks from home, dorm refrigerator and his microwave for mac'n 'cheese, etc affect costs.