How Did College Education Become So Ridiculously Expensive?

[Divernan]

40. Public universities w/ obscenely luxury dorm facilities; for one percenter wannabes?

Safe to say, the bulk of tuition is going to administration and housing costs, not faculty salaries, especially with the trend to part-time adjuncts instead of tenure stream faculty. Further, you'll note that these obscenely luxurious facilities are found in 2nd or 3rd rate schools, where administrators have opted to go for posh amenities rather than academic excellence.
University of Central Florida
When it opened in August '13, the new dorm pushed the bounds of cushiness. Every room has en-suite bathrooms and flat-screen TVs. Suites have island kitchens with stone countertops, washer-dryers and walk-in closets. Duplex units feature spiral staircases and two-story atriums. There is a resort-style swimming pool, 24-hour fitness center, sauna and game room. The parking garage is seven stories, ensuring that no student will have to take an elevator or brave the Florida elements on the way from their cars to their dorm rooms.

Living large on campus


Growing competition for students who have more sophisticated tastes means that schools are trying to outdo each other with ever-tonier campus housing. And keeping up in the luxury dorm race is now critical to a school's bottom line. A 2006 study published by the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers found that "poorly maintained or inadequate residential facilities" was the No. 1 reason students rejected enrolling at institutions.

Private universities get most of the mentions on lists of schools with great dorms, as recent ratings by The Princeton Review, College Prowler and Campus Splash make clear. But a few state schools that have invested in new facilities are starting to show up in those reviews, too.

While many schools offer first dibs on the nicest digs to upperclassmen, as the war for student dollars ratchets up, even first-year students at public colleges are living in style. Click ahead for a look at 10 on-campus dormitories at state schools that offer students resort-like amenities.

http://money.msn.com/family-money/public-colleges-with-luxurious-dorms

Penn State University: Eastview Terrace

This complex offers upperclassmen fully furnished single rooms with private bathrooms. Rooms are wired for cable TV, with dozens of popular channels and Internet access. There are also refrigerators and microwaves. All of the buildings have mail pickup and delivery. One senior told the university's student affairs office, "When I saw the room, I started jumping up and down."

University of Michigan: North Quadrangle Complex

This $175 million development at Michigan, now 2 years old, offers 450 rooms for upperclassmen: singles, doubles and triples, all with Wi-Fi access and central air. An internationally themed dining hall won the National Association of College and University Food Services' gold status last year for presentation and menu, according to a CNN report. Entries include salmon fillet, tortellini with walnut pesto sauce, lamb and shark. Students can also hit the Java Blue cafe and coffee shop for late-night cram sessions or take a break in the art gallery. An airy, ballroom-style multipurpose room with armchairs set in circles lets students work on group projects in comfort.

Georgia State University: University Commons

Students (most of them freshmen) at this gated-community complex of 8- to 15-story apartment buildings get a fully furnished private room in a suite that includes either two or four bedrooms and one or two baths. Each suite comes with a fully equipped kitchen and a living room. Bedrooms are wired with high-speed Ethernet, a high-speed voice link and cable TV. Wi-Fi also is available throughout the complex. There's a convenience store, mail delivery, a health clinic and 24-hour security. "We also have some of the best views in Atlanta," one resident told the school newspaper.
There are people who pay thousands of dollars to get views like ours."

University of Cincinnati: Campus Recreation Center housing

Opened at the University of Cincinnati in fall 2005, this student housing is a dream come true for upper-class fitness nuts. They can pick from a 40-foot climbing wall, a fitness center with more than 200 machines, an Olympic-sized lap pool, a current channel (an indoor river for those who want an upstream workout), an indoor track and a six-court gym. The complex offers private bedrooms, but bathrooms and living rooms are shared. It also includes a convenience store and a dining hall with seven taste stations.

Colorado State University: Academic Village

Built in 2007 to house first-year engineering and honors students, the Academic Village offers climate-controlled single or double rooms that come with their own bathroom. The Colorado State building houses a 44,000-square-foot dining commons, which seats 700 and offers themed menus with selections like Mongolian Grill, Sizzling Salads, Tex-Mex and other foods. A fireside lounge offers a spot to study or chat around a roaring hearth during frigid Colorado winters. Forget waiting around in the laundry room for an open machine -- high-tech washer-dryers let students check online for machine availability.

Montclair State University: The Heights

This university's newest residence hall, which opened in the fall 2011, is the largest residence and dining complex in New Jersey. It features single and double rooms, a community kitchen, multiple game-recreation spaces and closed study areas on each floor. All rooms have wireless access and 78-channel cable TV. The 24,000-square-foot dining hall has stations with names like Bella Trattoria, Flying Star Grill, Wild Mushroom and Magellan's World Cuisine (which rotates ethnic menus throughout the semester), as well as a vegetarian cuisine station. Breakfast is served all day.