College is Hard Enough…Why Does it Need to be SO Expensive?

6 Surprising Ways Financial Stress Ruins College Students’ Physical Health

One major problem that affects college students today is the financial struggle, and for me, this issue is very real and personal. I always knew college would come with a cost, but I never really understood how overwhelming it could be until I experienced it myself.

Every semester, the burden of paying tuition, buying textbooks, and covering living expenses gets heavier. The pressure to manage all these costs while also trying to succeed in school can feel impossible sometimes.

My biggest challenge that I am forced to face every day is something as simple as affording meals on campus.

Eating at the cafeteria should be easy and convenient, but instead, it is just another financial stress. At my school in the Chicago area, the cafeteria does not accept EBT cards, which makes it hard for students like me who rely on that to afford food. For me, it is beyond frustrating because, even though the prices might seem reasonable to some, for those of us on a tight budget, it’s too much.

I’ve had days where I had to skip meals just because I couldn’t afford anything from the cafeteria, even though I had money on my EBT card…

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Chicago Education Advocacy Cooperative
Chicago Education Advocacy Cooperative

Written by Chicago Education Advocacy Cooperative

Serving the needs of racialized and minoritized students in Chicago since 2020. www.chieac.org

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