Transcript:
Art school is expensive! Alongside tuition, there’s the cost of housing, food, materials, and more.
Speech bubble: “Dear God.”
Another hidden cost of higher education is the cost of returning home during breaks. This cost varies wildly from student to student. An F News survey of 25 students showed that while many students can get home for less than $100, some have to pay upwards of $3,000.
The lower end of that spectrum consists largely of students who already live at home or who can drive/take the train. However, 72.6% of respondents travel by plane, and round-trip air fare can range anywhere from under $60 to over $5,000.
While some are excited for SAIC’s new break schedules, for many international students, returning home is still untenable.
Speech Bubble: “I didn’t used to go home over fall and spring, but now I can because the breaks are longer.” Alex Lee, F News staff (BFA 2027)
Speech Bubble: “American college tuition is expensive, so I’m (unofficially) broke. The break needs to be 3 months long at least so that I can’t feel I wasted my money for short break,” Seojin Park (BFA 2028)
About 57% of students who were not returning home for the holidays cited cost as a factor in their decision not to travel.
Other concerns plaguing students included bag charges, pet logistics, and that one overhang Monday class that makes scheduling difficult.
Despite concerns, 80% of respondents said that they would be traveling home during their break, although they may not be the ones paying. According to a 2022 Credit Karma survey, 41% of Gen Z respondents who were traveling home expected parents or family to pay for the trip.
Of course, not everybody has to travel to see family. For students who live at home year round, winter break can be a time to catch up with friends or make a little extra money,
Speech Bubble: “If I’m not planning to take a class over the winter, I’ll probably just work in the academic advising office or somewhere else. Whenever it’s not a holiday or some reason to take a break, I’m just going to be working.” Juan Ocampo (BFAAE 2027)
Our college experiences are far from uniform, and break is no exception. That said, we could all use some time to recuperate from finals, connect with the people who matter to us, and gear up for the next semester. Hopefully, you can find a way to do that without breaking the bank.
