What is Room and Board in College?
By: Tyson Schritter, Chief Operating Officer – Colleges of Distinction
Room and board in college is defined as on-campus college housing with a meal plan included. It is a convenient setup that allows students to live on campus with easy, accountable access to food. Some colleges require incoming freshmen to sign up for room & board for their first year or two of college, but it is often an option available for any student throughout their four years.
“Room” in Room and Board, means…
The “room” part can be taken literally; it’s basically your college bedroom, where you can sleep, study, and hang out with your friends. Your room typically comes with the basics (a bed, desk, dresser), which can help you avoid the pain of bringing your own big, bulky furniture. There are usually various rooming options, which can range from single-resident dorms to shared suite-style rooms.
Here’s what “Board” refers to…
The term “board” refers to the meal plan, which can take many forms. Schools may offer plans that have a set number of meals per day, a set of meals per week, or unlimited access to the dining hall. One example is a college that provides a plan where students are given a set number of points at the beginning of the year. It’s then up to the students to budget their points for their daily meals, but they are given enough not to worry about running out! And as an incentive to opt in to a meal plans, some school make it cheaper to purchase food with dining points than with real money. Plans such as these are usually restricted to on-campus dining facilities, though sometimes they partner with local restaurants to take their points.
Things to Consider When Signing up for Room and Board:
While you’re preparing to start your college career, consider signing up for room and board. Although it can be a bit pricey, it can be extremely convenient with many benefits. Staying on campus allows you to live close to your classes and the college community, giving you a strong, immersive experience of the college experience. What’s more, housing and dining plans allow you to rest easy knowing that you are guaranteed to have all your basic living/eating needs met. With room & board, your big transition to college feel just a bit easier!
Average Room and Board Costs for 2023
According to EducationData.org, Public 4-year institutions charge an annual average of $11,520 for room and board for on-campus residents, while off-campus boarders incur a cost of $11,365. In private nonprofit institutions, on-campus residents pay an average of $13,028 per academic year, whereas those living off campus face an expense of $11,269.
On Campus Room and Board Costs for the Most Selective Colleges in the US
| California Institute of Technology | $18,606 |
| Harvard University | $19,502 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | $16,286 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $18,790 |
| Stanford University | $18,619 |
| Brown University | $15,840 |
| University of Chicago | $18,396 |
| Yale University | $18,450 |
| Dartmouth College | $18,099 |
| Duke University | $16,651 |
| Princeton University | $18,630 |
| Amherst College | $16,750 |
| Cornell University | $16,988 |
| Johns Hopkins University | $17,640 |
| Northeastern University | $18,430 |
| Northwestern University | $19,440 |
| Pomona College | $19,358 |
| Swarthmore College | $18,026 |
| University of Pennsylvania | $17,888 |
| Vanderbilt University | $19,862 |
| Colby College | $16,330 |
| Williams College | $15,530 |
| Barnard College | $19,364 |
| Bowdoin College | $16,772 |
| Rice University | $15,000 |
| University of California-Los Angeles | $17,231 |
| Claremont McKenna College | $18,712 |
| Curtis Institute of Music | $19,000 |
| Tufts University | $16,778 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | $16,486 |
| Emory University | $17,016 |
| Grinnell College | $15,048 |
| The Juilliard School | $20,310 |
| Tulane University of Louisiana | $17,346 |
| University of California-Berkeley | $21,402 |
| Colgate University | $16,106 |
| Georgetown University | $18,824 |
| Hamilton College | $15,910 |
| New York University | $20,272 |
| University of Southern California | $17,436 |
| Washington University in St Louis | $18,470 |
| Harvey Mudd College | $19,879 |
| Middlebury College | $17,800 |
| University of Notre Dame | $16,710 |
| Bates College | $17,224 |
| Boston University | $17,400 |
| Haverford College | $17,982 |
| Wellesley College | $19,080 |
| Wesleyan University | $18,180 |
| Colorado College | $14,376 |
| Boston College | $16,120 |
| Carleton College | $15,990 |
| Davidson College | $15,750 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | $12,342 |
| Rhode Island School of Design | $15,234 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $12,254 |
| Washington and Lee University | $16,920 |
| Pitzer College | $19,854 |
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