UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s benchmark room and board rate for the 2022-23 academic year — based on a standard double room and the most common meal plan — would increase by $212 per semester, or 3.5%, over 2021-22 rates, under a plan approved February 17 by the Penn State Board of Trustees Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning.
The rates are subject to the final approval of the full board, which will vote on the proposal at its Feb. 18 meeting.
If approved, the cost of a standard double room, which makes up the largest percentage of the University’s room inventory, would increase by $124 per semester to $3,687. The cost of the mid-level meal plan, the most popular option, would rise by $88 per semester to $2,604, bringing the total per-semester room and board rate to $6,291 for the 2022-23 academic year.
John Papazoglou, Penn State associate vice president for Auxiliary and Business Services, said the modest rate increase is necessary to cover unprecedented inflation for food costs and utilities, as well as to meet projected increases related to payroll and benefits, facility maintenance and renewal, and the operation of the Residence Life program.
Papazoglou said that Housing and Food Services’ primary goal during the room and board rate planning process each year is to minimize the impact of rising costs on students’ bottom lines.
“Our top priority is to provide our residential students with an exceptional living and dining experience that is a great value for the price,” Papazoglou said. “We are committed to doing our part to help reduce the overall cost of a Penn State education, and that includes doing everything we reasonably can to reduce our costs and find efficiencies in our operations so that room and board rates can be held as low as possible.”
To that end, Papazoglou provided an update on the LiveOn Student Success Grant program, which Housing and Food Services began this academic year to support need-based students residing at University Park and eight Commonwealth Campuses. The program provides eligible students with a grant covering approximately 25% of their room and board expenses for the year — about $3,000 — which can be renewed annually for four years, providing total savings of up to approximately $12,000. For a student living on campus all four years, the grant provides roughly one free year of room and board. For the inaugural group, Papazoglou said 231 students were awarded LiveOn grants for 2021-22, and the initial target for the second group in 2022-23 is 554 additional students.
Renewal of living spaces
Papazoglou also updated the committee on the status of Housing and Food Services’ residential capital renewal plans. Papazoglou said the final two phases of the East Halls renovation project at University Park will resume and be completed by the end of fiscal year 2024. Papazoglou added that a revised timeline is planned for the renewal of Pollock Halls, renovating two residence halls instead of three each year and concluding in 2029.
Recent additional renovation projects focused on critical deferred maintenance. Highlights presented by Papazoglou included new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems at Penn State Altoona; a multiyear phased mechanical room and plumbing infrastructure upgrade for the 1,200 residential student North Halls community at University Park; and a slate roof replacement in West Halls at University Park.
Penn State Housing and Food Services is a self-supporting auxiliary unit. Housing and food revenues must cover all operating expenses, debt, interest, and major maintenance and facility renewal costs. Neither state funds nor tuition are used for the construction, maintenance or operations of the housing and dining program.
Housing and Food Services operates residence halls at 11 Penn State campuses statewide, serving residential students at the University’s Abington, Altoona, Beaver, Behrend, Berks, Brandywine, Greater Allegheny, Harrisburg, Hazleton, Mont Alto and University Park campuses. Housing rates specific to each campus and various room types are available here. All rates for 2022-23 will be published soon after the board’s vote on Feb. 18.
Graduate apartment lease rates for the 2022-23 academic year were previously approved by the board at its September 2021 meeting.
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