Every full-time student at UNC pays a laundry list of student fees. Many students don’t realize what those fees include and what they could be taking advantage of. Here’s a breakdown of what you’re paying for as a student compared to what you would otherwise be paying if you weren’t a student.
Athletic fees – $279
This fee allows students to attend ANY athletic event for free. A men’s basketball and football ticket starts around $50. Attend six events of these two sports alone and you’ve gotten your money’s worth. Don’t skip out on the games. They’re really fun and your student fees are paying for you to go.
Student health – $380
UNC Campus Health Services is a great resource for more than the common cold. They offer men and women’s health services, dermatology, nutrition, counseling and psychological services, sports medicine, physical therapy and more. These services at an off-campus doctor’s office would total much more than $380.
Carolina Performing Arts – $11.62
Student tickets at Carolina Performing Arts Center cost only $10. The average ticket costs for non-students is $49. This means as a student you are saving $39 thanks to your student fees.
Gym membership and exercise classes – $113.72
A gym membership can cost about $50 per month. Group exercise classes at a gym or studio can range from $5 to $15 per class. Going to the Student Rec Center or Rams Head Recreation for little over two months covers your fee. Take a dip in the pool or go climb the indoor climbing wall. Your student fees pay for it all!
Student legal services – $15.30
Seeing a private attorney costs much more than $15.30. For under $20, all full-time students at UNC have access to an attorney for legal guidance. Whether it’s questions about a parking ticket or a more serious matter, as long as you are a full-time student and paid the student fee, you can receive legal representation. CSLS even hosts educational classes for a sorority, fraternity, student group or just a group of students who are curious about their rights.
Carolina Union Operations – $144.90
The Carolina Union hosts many great events including free movies every Friday and Saturday night. Instead of paying $11 for a movie ticket and taking a trip to the mall, you can watch recently released movies for free, and even bring one guest per one card. Past movies included Straight Outta Compton, Interstellar, Pitch Perfect 2 and Inside Out. The union also puts on great events like Laser Tag, free food and concerts. All these great events are at no or a low charge to attend because your student fees subsidize the costs.
Student fees when added up can be daunting, but as a student you really are getting your money’s worth if you take advantage of the services. So go to the gym, take that zumba class, attend a football game – you’re paying for it!