Committee Recommends Penn State Room and Board Increase

A Penn State Board of Trustees committee on Thursday recommended a 3.15 percent increase in the average student room and board cost for 2017-18.

For a mid-level meal plan and standard double room, the total would be $5,395 per semester, an increase of $165. That breaks down to $3,090 for a standard room cost per semester, up from $2,970 in 2016-17, and $2,305 per semester for the average meal plan per semester, up from $2,260 in 2016-17.

Room costs include a 2.25 percent capital assessment — $67 for a standard double room — which was instituted to last year to expedite Housing and Food Services projects across the university.

The smallest and largest meal plans would actually decrease in 2017-18. The smallest meal plan would drop by $125 to $1,985 and the largest by $95 to $2550.

Dave Rose, assistant vice president for auxiliary and business services, said that with additions of residence halls at the Abington and Brandywine campuses, housing and food services will see an increase in both revenues and costs. He said that 411 students have been added to the customer base, but that expenses including labor, utilities, food costs and supplies also will increase.

Overall expenses are expected to increase by $16.7 million.

Penn State operates housing and food services at 11 campuses. The university’s average room and board rate is eighth most expensive among the Big Ten’s 14 schools, Rose said.

The plan, approved by the board’s Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning, requires approval of the full board at Friday’s meeting.