7 Odd Ways Colleges Make Extra Money Off Students

Colleges make extra money off students in odd ways.

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College isn’t just about late-night study sessions, overpriced textbooks, and the occasional questionable cafeteria meal. Behind the ivy-covered walls, schools have perfected the art of squeezing extra dollars out of students in ways most people wouldn’t expect. Sure, tuition is already sky-high, but for many institutions, that’s just the beginning. Schools know students are a captive audience, and they don’t waste a chance to cash in.

From hidden fees to quirky money-making schemes, here are seven of the strangest ways colleges keep their bank accounts healthy—at students’ expense.

1. Renting Out Dorm Rooms in the Summer

When students pack up and head home for break, those empty dorms don’t just sit idle. Many colleges turn residence halls into makeshift hotels for conferences, summer camps, and even tourists. It’s cheap lodging for guests, but schools can charge more than what students typically pay during the semester.

The kicker? Students are often charged hefty fees if they want to stay an extra day past move-out. So, while the dorms rake in cash from outsiders, students foot the bill when they need flexibility.

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2. Parking Fees That Rival Rent

College parking lots are gold mines, and administrators know it. Permits can cost hundreds of dollars a year, and yet students still circle endlessly hunting for a spot. To make matters worse, many schools sell more passes than they have spaces, counting on the chaos to “balance out.” On top of that, parking tickets on campus often cost more than city violations. Students essentially pay premium rates for the privilege of stressing about where to park every day.

3. Gym Access That’s Never Optional

Even students who can’t stand treadmills are charged for gym memberships they didn’t ask for. Many colleges bundle recreation center fees into tuition bills, making them unavoidable. That means even the least athletic students are quietly paying for new weight racks and climbing walls. While gyms are shiny recruitment tools, they double as steady revenue streams for schools. Students pay whether or not they ever swipe their ID at the fitness center entrance.

4. Printing That Costs More Than Coffee

Need to print an essay or class project? Be prepared to watch your student account drain one sheet at a time. Many schools charge well above the actual cost of ink and paper, sometimes making printing pricier than buying a cup of coffee. Color printing can be outrageous, with some campuses charging per page as if each sheet were a luxury item. The machines are placed conveniently in libraries and labs, ensuring students have no real alternative. It’s the academic version of being nickeled and dimed.

5. Meal Plans That Trap Students

Meal plans may look like a deal on paper, but they often benefit schools far more than students. Many colleges require first-year students to buy large, expensive plans, even if they’ll never eat that much food. Leftover meals typically vanish at the end of each week or semester, meaning money is lost if it’s not used. Meanwhile, schools have already pocketed the full amount up front. The system ensures students pay for more food than they’ll ever consume.

6. Campus Convenience Stores with Sky-High Prices

On-campus stores are stocked for convenience, but prices are anything but student-friendly. A bag of chips or bottle of water can cost significantly more than at any off-campus grocery. Because students often don’t have cars or time to shop elsewhere, the markup hits hard. Some schools even let students use dining dollars or campus cash at these shops, giving the illusion of value. In reality, it’s another clever way to siphon money through inflated prices.

7. Fees for Things You Didn’t Know Existed

Few things are sneakier than the laundry list of “student fees” tucked into tuition bills. Technology fees, lab fees, wellness fees, sustainability fees—the list is endless, and most students barely know what half of them cover. These charges can add hundreds, sometimes thousands, to the annual cost of attendance. The best part for colleges is that fees are nonnegotiable and rarely transparent. Students pay first and ask questions later, if they even realize what they’re funding.

The Hidden Business of Campus Life

Colleges are masters at turning everyday student needs into profitable ventures. From food to parking to mystery fees, schools have found countless ways to pad the budget while students juggle loans and part-time jobs. Some tactics are practical, others feel like exploitation, but all of them show how campus life doubles as a business strategy. Next time a student swipes their card or pays a fee, it’s worth asking: who benefits more, the student or the school?

What are your thoughts on these hidden money-makers? Drop a comment and share your take.