Could you tell me why the cost of room+board so defferent between Wisconsin and Massachusetts?

Parents Forum
21

Ideally, colleges would offer a range of housing and food choices and prices. Not everyone can afford to live in an amenity-laden apartment building, but having some of those units helps to attract the full pay students. Every college should offer some housing with basic kitchens for people who feel they can do better than the dining hall. There can be greater price differentiation among meal plans. If a person likes to go home on weekends, they should have options to buy fewer meals. If someone else wants to use some of their meal swipes for lobster, let them. I’ve often thought that deserts should be an extra debit on the dining card, to keep the base price low, and to reduce the freshman 15.

In Pennsylvania, I was surprised to see that the standard meal plan at the local public university is half the price of many meal plans at local private colleges. I know that at least some of those private colleges do use their meal plans to subsidize their tuition discounts. In fact, my daughter’s merit scholarship at a private college would get cut by $4,000 a year if she lives off-campus. That tells you very clearly that the college is making money off the housing, which averages $7,500 to share a bedroom room for 9 months (in a city with affordable housing) . At that college, many students want to live off-campus, but the college will not let them, because they need to keep their on-campus housing full.

22

I think the idea is that they can keep costs down by not offering the flexibility. Clearly that hasn’t actually come to fruition at many universities (Where I went to school the meal plans were more expensive than eating at restaurants for every meal, and the food not as good. And the dorms were more expensive than anything except the luxury apartments in the area.) but at least the idea is that they’re keeping the cost low. If they’re going to start offering the flexibility, then costs would have to rise (on average) and you might as well just not have dorms and dining halls.

23

I found the R and B scene shocking when we visited schools. We went through the perfectly acceptable dorm at Barnard, but behind me the HS girl said, “I couldn’t live there” (in that room). And her mother said, “Don’t worry, dear. I wouldn’t expect you, too.” My own kids protested the quality of food at a university lunch with a salad bar, a fry station, and a stir fry bar. They were happy with Tufts, which had all you can eat salmon for lunch . . .

I do not know how expectations got so high. Grey beef and peas vs. gourmet: there has got to be a middle ground. How about soup and sandwiches for lunch?

24

I’m not a fan of plans like this because it creates segregation. Rich students here, poor students there.

That’s one of the things I don’t like about UW-Madison. The more-affluent, out-of-state students live in the more-expensive “private dorm.”

25

UMass has a very weird billing system imposed upon it by the state government. It has kept tuition artificially low for years while inflating fees:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/07/17/umass-fixes-tuition-billing-quirk/XjrGVZt1MayWakRkrURwDO/story.html

The high room and board quote may be part of that.

26

I have seen some of the dorms at LaCrosse. They are typical dorms. Nothing special but serve their purpose. I’m sure the food is fine. LaCrosse is an inexpensive city. FYI-it does get hot in Wisconsin in the summer, but not much different than New England. My D is at a private school in Massachusetts with expensive dorms and no A/C. The end of August was very hot, though she survived. And the food is pretty mediocre.

There is nothing to be suspicious about with regard to LaCrosse. It’s just a good deal (and a good school!)

27

UW-Lacrosse is probably the best UW system school after the flagship in Madison.

Something to check when considering room and board costs is how things are done. This includes the dorm style and services. Is it a double or triple? Air conditioned? Suites or not- and who cleans the bathroom? Cost of laundry- free dryers at UW (Madison), I know no one removing laundry from a dryer was stealing dryer time…

Food costs can vary based on region. Also by meal plans. I have seen huge differences in those costs and requirements from website browsing. Some places are like Wisconsin where the public dorms are self sufficient but not profit making. Others may operate differently. Consider the food options- that can influence costs. A basic all you can eat plan with options only in numbers of meals per week is very different than one with multiple facilities options. Also compare the meal foods available. Ethnic foods vary a lot by region- depending on the local population preferences and how varied the dining places choose to be. Grits- not on the northern menu.

Also consider the available dining options in the college area. Some have many, in others you definitely want the meal plan. Plus- hours of dining availability. Then check on dorm amenities. Some schools provide room refrigerators and/or microwave ovens at no additional charge. Others charge a rental fee. Some have no rental plans and you bring your own or rent from an outside source. Mny variables.

UW-Madison has a food service system where no minimum is required. Dollars put in the Res Halls meal account give a significant discount for food items purchased at any Res Halls facility- including convenience stores, snack bars and dining halls. Anyone can eat at their facilities as well. The dorm room charge includes a fee to support the dining buildings/facilities, hence the discount (60% difference compared to cash prices?). UW gives typical spending in Res Halls by dorm residents. The costs at nearby grocery stores will be higher than stores a bus ride away. These costs are much less than in other regions (the price of a gallon of milk close to the Lacrosse, WI zero distance for price supports is an example- along with general cost of living. I had to get one of my pet peeves out).

This is the United States- no uniformity expected.

28

While food prices may not vary much between W and Ma, the food is only one element. The space for the cafe is more expensive, the labor to make and serve is higher, insurance, etc.

I think many people severely underestimate the cost of living along the east coast in general.

29

I noted the high cost of milk here in Florida coming from Wisconsin while a new neighbor found it lower than her near DC Maryland area. Years ago I noted Washington state apples were cheaper in WI than in Seattle when on a vacation. I still haven’t figured out the whys and wherefores of some pricing. Such as why in Tampa with cheap land et al grocery prices are so high (relatively) for everything- even for items grown here.

Back to the college aspect. Be sure to not only look at listed costs for typical students. When you look at budgets you may incur other expenses not listed. Travel is a big one. You need to consider transportation from the major airport to the school (eg flights, trains, buses). Books et al count. Extra fees for courses. Entertainment costs.

But- first look at the academics. The cheaper school may not have what the student wants/needs. Remember to look at flexibility in changing plans such as the major.

30

Look up three bedroom noises in Lacrosse and in Amherst. I’m going to guess that the costs in Amherst for real estate, especially close to UMass, are higher than the costs of real estate inLacrose.

31

The per capita income in Massachusetts is $54,321. The per capita income in Wisconsin is $40,741. The two states are close in the annual state and local tax burden, which means Wisconsin has a higher overall local tax rate: http://taxfoundation.org/article/annual-state-local-tax-burden-ranking-fy-2011

Then again, comparing the two universities on College Navigator, it seems the Massachusetts net price reflects an attempt to set tuition, fees & room and board in a progressive manner, i.e., the wealthier families pay more (relatively speaking): https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=university+of+massachusetts&s=all&id=166629
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=university+of+wisconsin&s=all&id=240329#netprc.

One should also consider that the value of a degree varies by region. A degree from the University of Massachusetts may be worth more in Massachusetts (and neighboring states) than in Wisconsin, and vice versa.

32

When Romney was governor in Mass., he set up a system that offered free “tuition” at in-state universities for top high school students. However, the state really didn’t really want to fund free tuition. Therefore, they kept tuition artificially low and shifted almost all of the costs into mandatory fees.

33

This is something that varies quite widely by region, by type of school, and by location. Generally room & board is higher on the East and West Coasts than in the Midwest (though Northwestern, the University of Chicago, and Notre Dame all charge premium coastal prices); higher at private schools, especially high-end private schools, than at public universities; higher at state flagships than at other public universities; and higher in bigger cities than in smaller towns. Taking all that into account, neither the room & board charges at UMass-Amherst nor those at UW-La Crosse are out of line for their locations and school types. Here are some comparable room and board charges for 2015-16:

Smith $15,470
Harvard $15,381
Northwestern University $14,936
University of Chicago $14,772
Princeton $14,720
Wellesley $14,504
UC Berkeley $14,388
Stanford $14,107
Yale $14,044
Notre Dame $13,846
Williams $13,220
Tufts $13,094
UConn $13,026
Mount Holyoke $12,860
Carleton College $12,783
Ohio State $11,666
** UMass-Amherst** $11,503
Grinnell College $11,408
Marquette University $11,220
University of Illinois $11,010
Macalester College $10,874
University of Michigan $10,544
University of Nebraska $10,310
Purdue $10,030
Indiana U $9,794
St. Olaf College $9,790
University of Iowa $9,728
Michigan State $9,524
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities $8,744
Minnesota State-Mankato $8,430
Iowa State $8,070
Minnesota State-Moorhead $7,948
Beloit College $7,890
University of Minnesota-Morris $7,804
Luther College (Decorah, IA) $7,650
Concordia College (Moorhead, MN) $7,600
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire $7,322
University of North Dakota $7,236
University of Minnesota-Duluth $7,210
Lawrence University $7,210
South Dakota State $6,364
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay $6,000
** University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse** $5,850

34

Thanks a lot to all posters again. You are very nice and warm-hearted and I am very glad to send my child to so nice a country to study. May you and me become good friends.

35

I was reading recently that for some colleges, their residence halls and food service programs are actually profit centers. Particularly some of the ones that are substantially discounting their OOS tuition. This helps to make up the balance. Conversely, some of them that recently made large investments in residence and dining hall construction may be amortizing some of that investment.

36

Wisconsin cheese $ < Massachusetts lobstah $

37

It’s not just geographic. UM-Amherst is the flagship; UW-LaCrosse isn’t. Directionals can’t demand the same premium as flagships. UW-Madison charges $8800 for room & board. That’s still a Midwest price, but it’s closer to U Michigan’s cost than UW-Lacrosse’s.

38

At UMass, the tuition goes into the state general fund, which the politicians in Boston have access to. Fees stay on campus. So by having high fees and low tuition, the majority of the money stays local, out of the hands of the legislature.

The “free tuition” @Charliesch mentioned is the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, for students who excel in the state testing program. At UMass Amherst, we’re talking $1500 per year, less at other campuses.

Also, the state’s contribution to UMass is pathetic. I cannot speak of Wisconsin’s support for public universities. I just know that Gov. Scott Walker is looking to weaken the system to save $$. He basically said a world-class flagship isn’t necessary, just a decent one is good enough for citizens of the state. Sad.

39

Glido nailed it: Swiss cheese, cheesecake, cottage cheese, cheesesteak, cream cheese, cheeseburgers, Cheetos, grilled cheese, patty melts, Cheese Whiz, macaroni and cheese, cheese fries, cheese omlettes, tuna melt, cheese pizza, cheese nachos.

40

Again- you need to look at ALL costs. Room and board where students eat most meals in the dorm setting. Costs of other food. Often schools will list typical student costs for various items in addition to tuition and fees and dorm costs. Other items can be extra food costs, travel costs, books and supplies etc. International students often stay on/near campus during breaks- that is an additional cost.