Last Monday, GW Housing released rates for on campus living for the 2014-2015 school year. Some stark changes came with the announcement this year: prices have been raised slightly for freshman and sophomores, and the University is providing new, cheaper options for upperclassmen.
For underclassmen, housing rates have been increased slightly from the previous year. Freshman year rates rose by 5.9%, with the cheapest housing rising from $7,350 to $7,790 per school year. Sophomore rates rose by 3.6%, with the cheapest option rising from $9,700 to $10,050.
For upperclassmen, the biggest housing change is the introduction of new living options, which are cheaper than those currently offered. Upperclassmen will now have the option to live in The Dakota and Mitchell Hall, which previously housed sophomores. The change has the potential to save upperclassmen students $1,930 dollars compared to a studio in City Hall, the cheapest housing available in a traditionally upperclassmen dorm.
The move to expand cheaper housing options comes on the heels of a Student Association study which showed that students pay more per square foot to live in GW Housing than to live in a comparable space off campus. According to the study, an on campus double costs approximately $13, 410 for a school year, while a double off campus costs approximately $10, 765 for the same period of time. The University will begin to require all Juniors to live in on-campus housing beginning with the Class of 2018, and GW officials responded to the SA study with promises to develop a strategy for cheaper options.
SA President Julia Susuni said that the SA was “very happy that the administration was receptive to our housing cost-comparison…and made the adjustments to provide more affordable housing for juniors, especially in light of the recent mandate that juniors live on campus”, and stated that the SA would “continue to explore options to make housing affordable for students.” Additionally, Susuni noted the university’s recent commitment to renovating existing residence halls on a seven year cycle as further evidence of “the administration’s willingness to bring the quality of on campus hosing in line with the options available off campus.”
For coverage on the SA candidates’ positions on housing costs at GW along with other issues, check out our coverage of the SA debate and our interviews with all the candidates!