Living Life in Luxury With Tuition-Covered Campus Perks
Ever wonder where all that tuition money actually goes? At some colleges in the U.S., it’s not just textbooks and classrooms—it’s luxury perks that rival five-star resorts. From rooftop pools and gourmet dining halls to high-tech nap pods and campus spas, some schools are giving students a taste of the high life. Here’s a look at the most over-the-top amenities your tuition may be helping to fund.
Therapy Dogs
Even with access to every luxury under the sun, your time at college could still be stressful, especially during exams. Fortunately, some universities - like Harvard - actually offer therapy dog sessions to help alleviate stress, which becomes especially crucial during finals week.
Lazy River Pools
For many students, studying is only a secondary objective when they go to college. After all, why crack open a book when you can crack open a brewski instead and enjoy some time beside the waterfalls and palm trees of the University of Missouri?
On-Campus Ski Resort
Most college students are perfectly content with the regular old recreational activities provided by most universities, like sports, theatre, and that sort of thing. Of course, extreme sports enthusiasts will have to travel far and wide to find a skate park or ski resort to cater to their needs - that is, unless you go to Michigan Technological University, which offers access to Mont Ripley, a popular ski hill.
Private Pools and Spas
Unless you’ve already got your own place or can comfortably live with your parents until your studies are completed, chances are you’ll be spending pretty much all of your time - including your relaxation time - on campus. Fortunately, some universities go the extra mile to cater to their students’ needs, like UC Davis's Cuarto Area, which offers private pools and a spa area where you can unwind after a long day of classes.
Rock Climbing Walls
There’s more to campus life than just studying. To succeed both in college and in the real world, you’ll need to stay fit as well. And we can’t think of a more exciting way to stay in shape than with a rock climbing wall, like those offered by Boston University and Oberlin College.
Aquatic Centers
While you may be content with staying in the warmth and safety of your room studying all winter, come summertime, you’re going to be longing for the beach. Fortunately, if you’re planning on attending Georgia Tech, you can expect full access to the university’s very own water park, complete with slides, lazy rivers, and hot tubs.
24/7 Fitness Centers
College is the time of your life when you get to decide what kind of person you want to be, and if the kind of person you want to be is a buff, meat-headed gym bro, then most universities will have you covered. Many campuses feature round-the-clock gyms, catering to all lifestyles and schedules, so there’s no excuse as to why you can’t get your gains on.
Spas and Wellness Centers
Of course, going to college can be stressful. Besides all the tests and exams you’ll need to complete, you will probably have a pretty demanding social life as well. And when the stress gets to be a little too much, you’ll be glad for the on-campus spas and wellness centers offered by many universities.
All-You-Can-Eat Dining
By now, you will have come a long way from the sloppy joes you would have been served at your alma mater’s cafeteria, and maybe you’ve developed a far more demanding appetite. If that’s the case, Kenyon College is worth your consideration due to its unlimited dining options, available at all times of the day.
On-Campus Steakhouses
School cafeterias get the job done when it comes to feeding students and giving them a place to eat, but they’re not exactly fine dining. Fortunately, some prestigious schools - like High Point University - actually have their own on-campus restaurants or steakhouses, where you wouldn’t feel ashamed bringing a hot date to.
Lobster Dinners
Lobster is kind of one of those meals that you would imagine only the rich and famous get to eat regularly. But if you plan on attending Virginia Tech, you can expect to enjoy fresh Maine lobster daily courtesy of their West End Market.
Ice Cream Shops
Ah, to be a kid in summer again, playing outside and enjoying a fresh cone of the good stuff courtesy of the ice cream van. Sadly, those care-free days are past now, but that’s no reason to not enjoy ice cream, as offered by Rutgers University's very own Coldstone Creamery.
Gourmet Dining Halls
Many university students eat solely to sustain themselves during long periods of study. Sadly, not everyone will get to enjoy fine dining during their college years, but the lucky few who do attend prestigious universities will get to sample exquisite menus crafted by world-renowned chefs.
Organic and Local Produce
Steakhouses and dining halls may offer some of the most delicious food you’ll ever taste, but particularly eco or health-conscious students won’t be impressed - that is, unless they attend Bowdoin College, who source their ingredients from their very own on-campus organic gardens.
Luxury Dorms
Let’s face it, all you really need to survive - not just in college but in the real world as well - is some food, a place to rest, and a place to - ahem - expel that food. Of course, not everyone’s tastes are so simple, and places like Boston University offer luxurious dorms complete with their own private bathrooms, flatscreen TVs, and walk-in closets.
High-End Student Housing
Like Boston University’s own luxury dorms, several universities in the UK offer high-end housing to their students. While it’s perhaps typically more modest than what Boston University offers, these are purpose-built student spaces, complete with coffee bars, dedicated study areas, and gyms, just for students.
Private Apartments
Of course, you won’t be a student forever, and once you leave college, you’ll need to know how to support yourself and manage your own space properly. Fortunately, some universities offer access to private apartments (complete with their own kitchens and amenities) that will give students a taste of what it’s like in the real world.
Rooftop Lounges
Learning to relax and appreciate the quiet moments is key to your success as a college student. You can’t work without a little bit of playtime, and you can’t play if you don’t know how to relax, so having access to a rooftop lounge, as provided by some universities, is an incredible privilege.
Smart Dorm Features
Technology is always moving forward, and few are as attuned to such changes as the youth of today. With that said, some universities will cater to your technological obsessions by offering several smart features in your dorm, like automatic lighting and climate control, that’ll have you believing you’re living in the future.
Nap Pods
As we’ve mentioned repeatedly throughout this list, there’s more to campus life than just studying, and with all those classes to attend and exams to write, you’re going to want to recharge every once in a while. Fortunately, some universities offer nap pods where students can rest and recharge when the going gets tough.
Aquariums
Depending on where you live, you may have little to no interaction with the wonders of aquatic life. St Leo University has its own aquarium, complete with all manner of maritime critters that provide a peaceful ambiance.
On-Campus Movie Theaters
With streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, there are fewer and fewer reasons to ever pay a visit to the cinema… that is, unless you attend High Point, which features its very own on-campus movie theater, which students can access for free, complete with complimentary snacks and all.
Arcades
Like movie theaters, traditional arcades are something of a dying breed. Part of the reason is access - it’s so much easier to just play online from the comfort of your own home than to visit the local arcade. That said, that excuse doesn’t work for some students since certain universities offer an on-campus arcade featuring titles both old and new.
On-Campus Nightclubs
College life is pretty much synonymous with nightlife - that is, university students probably make up the majority of club patronage. These spaces can often be dangerous, however, due to their uncontrollability. Fortunately, some universities offer their own on-campus nightclubs for students to enjoy in relative safety.
Pet-Friendly Dorms
One of the toughest parts of growing up and leaving home is having to say goodbye to your beloved furry friends since most universities aren’t pet-friendly. That said, there are some who do allow pets, meaning there’s a chance you won’t have to leave old Fido behind after all.
Lobster Bakes
A lobster bake is kind of like a pot-luck but for very rich people - or for students of Bowdoin College who host an annual lobster bake. It’s a unique, communal dining experience that’ll give you a chance to get to know your fellow students while eating damn good at the same time.
Free Laptops
The only notebooks most students make use of nowadays are the digital kind. Fortunately, many universities have adapted to the changing times and offer free laptops to their students, pre-loaded with the software they’ll need.
High-Tech Classrooms
Students aren’t the only ones whose stationery has evolved - many university teachers and classrooms are now equipped with all kinds of gadgets and gizmos to modernize classes.
Innovation Labs
College is where the best and brightest minds of the future are molded and shaped. That said, these intellectuals need a place to apply their knowledge, which is exactly what some universities offer with their innovation labs.
24/7 Study Rooms
The average university can occasionally get pretty noisy, making it difficult for students to concentrate and study. Fortunately, many campuses have their own dedicated study rooms, which are kept free of noise.
Academic Advisors
Your growth as a student - and, indeed, as an individual - will sometimes be stunted by a lack of guidance and direction. Fortunately, many universities have dedicated advisory staff to help students find their way and navigate courses, career paths, and aspects of personal development as well.
Research Grants
Depending on your field of choice, there may be room for innovation and breakthrough if only you had the funds. Fortunately, some universities offer research grants to certain undergraduates with the express purpose of innovating and growing academically.
Green Buildings
The simple truth is that the earth isn’t getting any cooler anytime soon, so it’s up to us to do what we can for our environment. Many universities have adapted admirably by constructing “green” buildings, eco-friendly spaces built with energy-efficient designs and sustainable materials.
Campus Gardens
Campus gardens are a peaceful, relaxing space that many universities offer. They allow students to get in touch with nature, with some even offering the chance for students to participate in sustainable gardening practices.
Recycling Programs
Recycling is one of the easiest things we can do to help our planet, and many universities now implement comprehensive recycling programs that encourage student participation.
