After decreasing its non-refundable Housing Application Service Fee for the next academic year, California State University, Long Beach has one of the lowest application fees and housing prices in comparison to similar California State Universities.
CSULB lowered the fee from $400 to $275 for the 2015-2016 academic year, Carol Roberts-Corb, the director of housing and residential life, said.
“[The fee decrease] was based on a desire to increase access, not wanting that initial payment to be a barrier,” Roberts-Corb said. “It’s a double-edged sword because it’s applied to the overall cost of housing so it lowers your payments.”
Housing rates for CSULB vary from $10,122 to $11,830 for the academic year, according to the University Housing and Residential Life website.
CSULB Housing and Residential Life also requires residents to pay an additional $20 social fee, and if students pay for housing with the eight-month installment plan they are required to pay a one-time $40 installment fee.
Aimee Uresti, a junior psychology major, said that students could spend the money they pay for housing on something that is beneficial in the long run.
“I don’t think it’s worth it, I think you could invest your money somewhere else,” Uresti said in reference to living in the dormitories. “And for two years, [$11,830] is like the price of a car.”
In comparison, the cost of housing for California State University, Northridge is the least costly in the CSU system, ranging from $6,036 to $7,760 per school year, and changes depending on the type of room, according to housing rates for the academic year on their website. Accommodation ranges from double apartments with or without a kitchen, or a double suite without a kitchen.
Compared to other CSUs, CSUN has the lowest initial payment fee with a cost of $50, according to their Student Housing and Conference Services website.
California State University, Fullerton’s website reports on housing room and board rates shows they have the most costly housing ranging from $10,764 to $15,768. The initial payment fee is now one of the more costly at $350 because of the decrease to $275 at CSULB.
Students at CSUF can choose to live in residence halls or in a single or double apartment and before students apply for student housing, they must first accept their admission offer and pay a $25o enrollment deposit.
San Diego State University has the most costly initial payment at $375, and one of the more expensive housing rates with the total housing cost varying from $11,653 to $15,533, according to the housing and dining rates on the SDSU website.
Students at SDSU can choose to live in double, single, triple or quad dormitories. Upper division students can live in double or single apartments.
Areli Navarro Garcia, a junior psychology major at CSULB, said she noticed SDSU’s fees are high especially with their student fees, which are $697 according to the Student Account Services 2015 report.
“Long Beach is always trying to set their fees a little bit lower, but the dorms are still high,” Garcia said.