The Wayne State Board of Governors announced March 24 that room and board costs for Wayne State students will increase, beginning this fall.
According to the official minutes, room rates for a variety of accommodation types will increase 2.6 percent to 3.5 percent.
The board plan rate changes vary from a reduction of 10.4 percent to an increase of 3.6 percent.
“Our room and board rates are very economical compared to other Michigan public universities,” Tim Michael, director of housing, said in an e-mail. “If you compare last year’s room rates to this year’s, you’ll see we held all increases at or below 3.5 percent.”
Returning residents will see an increase of 3.5 percent in their room charges. According to the official housing Web site, housing.wayne.edu, double and triple occupancy rooms with private bathrooms in Ghafari & Atchison Halls cost $4,630 annually in 2009-10. In 2010-11, that same room will cost $4,792.05, an increase of $162.05.
In comparison, the rate for University of Michigan’s Fletcher Hall range from $3,858 per year for a triple suite and up to $6,812 for a single-occupancy suite.
Freshmen rates at Wayne State will go up 4.04 percent, from $7,210 to $7,500.
The graduate and professional apartment increase is slated for a 3 percent increase.
Not all housing will increase. In the DeRoy Apartments, the efficiency and one- and two-bedroom unfurnished apartments will all see a reduction in monthly costs.
Though the increases and decreases are a done deal, Michael said there has also been a huge increase in priority room selection for the fall semester, which ended after spring break.
He said more than 550 residents have selected rooms to return to in fall 2010, compared to more than 200 in spring 2009.
On-campus housing isn’t for everyone, especially for freshman Monet Colbert.
“I believe the dorms are too expensive, and there are some decent apartments that are cheaper than the dorms,” she said.
Monet said she lives with her mother in northwest Detroit, and housing rates increasing makes on-campus living that much less appealing.
“It’s just another nail in the coffin,” she said. “I’m not doing it.”
Terry Birl is a freshman currently living in Ghafari Hall. He said next year he’ll move back home and commute to save money, but that the increase in housing didn’t really effect his decision.
“That’s some of it,” he said of the cost increase. “But no, that’s not really it.”
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