There is no nice way to say it: prices are climbing around the country, and Northwestern State University of Louisiana is no exception.
This school year saw an increase in tuition and fees as well as a rise in meal plan costs. Similar issues are found off-campus, as people throughout the United States struggle to meet the rising costs of groceries, technology and other necessary supplies. Some students who studied comfortably just last semester are now struggling to afford school.
According to Rodney Wilson, NSU’s chief financial officer, the rise in tuition and fees was strategic. All students received a campus memo in Spring 2025 about an increase in fees. The memo from April 16 states, “traditional students will see a 6.5% or less increase and no student will experience an increase of more than 10%.”
Wilson elaborated more on the information in that memo, explaining, “Increases to tuition and fees are not actions taken lightly, which is why we have not made changes for the past six years despite that trend.”
He explained that the increase in fees is necessary for NSU to provide the best education to its students. “A quick look around campus will see improvements ranging from the biology labs, dining hall and athletic facilities, to new certification pathways, capped by the opening of Alost Hall,” Wilson said. He encouraged students to explore the “robust financial aid system” if they are struggling to pay for school.
The increase in campus dining costs is also weighing on students. Last fall, the default “Unlimited” meal plan cost $2,335. It now costs $2,420 and only offers 17 meal swipes a week. The cheapest resident meal plan previously cost only $800, but that has been increased to $1,000.
Kassadi Monica, general manager of Sodexo at NSU, explained that the increase was caused by two things: compensating for inflated food costs and renovating Iberville Dining Hall.
According to Monica, “The shift from $800 to $1000 in declining balance, and the change from the unlimited plan to a 17 meal plan is to support the investment for the dining hall renovation and provide more declining balance to students, so they have more choices where they can eat on campus.” She asserted that the new prices are to support a better dining experience.
It is clear that the price changes were made with good intentions. However, that does not negate the fact that students are still struggling. CJ Keenum, sophomore occupational therapy major, is one of many Demons facing financial difficulty.
“This change isn’t welcomed at all. I already have student debt, and while my parents make a decent wage and try to spare what they can, it’s not substantial enough to help me,” Keenum said.
Many students like Keenum are now burdened with the fear that they can’t afford their education. There are some employment opportunities on- and off-campus that can help but balancing work and school is a stressful feat. “I plan on working as much as I can,” Keenum said.
Inflation has certainly posed challenges to students, but they are not insurmountable. “Any increase to tuition or fees can increase the challenge of completing a college degree. Northwestern State is committed to being a good partner to students and mitigating increases at every turn,” Wilson said.
Financial Aid and Student Accounting work with NSU students to navigate these trying economic times.
