With respect to dorms at WashU: A student on financial aid can choose to pay more for a modern (more expensive) dorm. The price difference this year was about $700 per year, at least for freshmen and sophomores living in doubles. Lots of students prefer the traditional (older) dorms–they have a reputation for being more social. Here’s a link with current costs:
https://reslife.wustl.edu/applying-for-housing/room-rates/