Students at Arizona State University are facing a harsh reality as the cost of living continues to

skyrocket, putting students and their families through financial burden. With having to pay for
groceries, gas, and other necessities, students are found making decisions that are also
affecting their academic pursuits.

According to Melissa Korn of the Wall Street Journal, research shows that ASU has been at the
forefront of increasing student living prices throughout the country. Evidence shows that over the
past 20 years, housing costs have doubled in Tempe, and some costs have even tripled in
certain situations. This increase has taken the biggest jump within the last 10 years and has
been coming to light within the last few.

Arizona State University is also known for having one of the largest undergraduate student
populations in the US, totaling over 65,000, according to USNews. Housing is already very
limited due to the high undergraduate population, and increasing prices do not help the
situation.

ASU President Michael Crow has pledged to not increase in-state tuition more than 3% through
the 2028-29 school year, however, this policy is not in place for housing costs.

According to Redfin, the rapidly growing greater Phoenix area can also be to blame for the
increase in student living prices, with the median sale price up 13.8% over the last year.
Housing prices are also up nearly 20% percent since the end of the pandemic.

I spoke with an ASU student who is currently a junior, Alex Martinez, who aside from his tuition
being covered by his parents, is fully self-dependent. He talked about how he is barely making
ends meet.

“I work 30-40 hours a week while trying to balance my schoolwork and being a participating
member of my fraternity. I have to pay for all my expenses, including rent, groceries, gas, my
phone bill, and my dues.” Martinez continued to add “That doesn't even include entertainment or
any spending on going out.”

I also asked Martinez what his biggest worry is regarding his expenses, and he said that getting
his rent in on time is the biggest thing he dwells on.

As of recently, rent specifically in Tempe near ASU’s main campus has been reported as
upwards of $1,500 for a single-bedroom apartment. That is just for the low end too. Luxury
apartments and those within walking distance from campus have been reported as high as
$1,700 per month, almost unrealistic for the majority of the student population.

“I come from a border town south of Tucson, Nogales. Nobody from my area comes from a lot of
money, including myself. The fact that I am lucky enough to come to ASU thanks to grants and
scholarships is something I cherish. My parents are very particular about what I spend my
money on, and only let me use so much of my savings at a time. It feels like I am asking them to
use more of my savings every couple of days. Everything here is so expensive.”

He started finding housing and then paying his rent on time is very difficult. This concern is a
high priority for most students.

“I'm broke. That’s the bottom line,” Armenta went on to say. “I don’t have time for a job, so I have
to rely on my savings most of the time and come summer time, I will be working nonstop to be in
a comfortable position for next school year.”

On campus living is also another option for students, which is said to be cheaper by the school,
when in reality it turns out to be more expensive in some cases.

TK Reed is a junior at ASU. His scholarship requires him to live on campus, which has its
positives and negatives.

“Living on campus allows me to save money on gas, and I have a job with the athletic
department as a part of the grounds crew, so I do not have to worry about commuting. However,
I have a lot of other commitments that take up a lot of my time and responsibilities, including
focusing on my academics.”

Reed is president of his fraternity, serves on the Interfraternity Council board, and has a busy
social life.

“A lot of the stuff I do on the fraternity side requires a lot of meetings with people, and a lot of
trips to restaurants for lunches with people. It costs a lot more money than you may think. I have
a girlfriend, and outings with her take up a good amount of my budget. I am already really busy
with those things, so in the free time I do get, I have work, and I work weird hours because they
line up with when ASU athletic games are.”

Reed also said he constantly feels overwhelmed, but at the end of the day, he does make ends
meet, even with the rising costs of daily expenses.

The soaring cost of living in Tempe and the surrounding areas has lasting effects on the
students of Arizona State University. With rent reaching as high as $1,700 a month, their pursuit
of a degree and future success is put into jeopardy due to daily expenses puts them in a tough
situation, looking for answers. ASU and the City of Tempe have yet to find a concrete solution
for these issues, and in the coming years, change has to be made for these students to
continue pursuing their goals.