Lifestyles of NATIVE SUN DEVILS
By: Lauren Slim
Tribal Affiliation: Navajo
Major(s): B.A. Architecture
As a Navajo second-year student in Barrett, the Honors College (majoring in architecture), I spent time thinking about where to live. To get a better understanding of available options, I researched the living arrangements of fellow ASU Native college students to see how much they pay for housing and living expenses while they are going to school. I have listed estimates and pictures of the different lifestyles. Keep in mind, the final cost will vary depending on each student’s lifestyle and needs. I live on campus, in the Vista Del Sol Apartments. This research helped me understand the different costs that fellow Native Sun Devils are paying and begin planning for where I may live next year. I hope these options help you better understand the different choices available to you.
RESIDENCE HALL LIVING
Many students live in residence halls across the four ASU campuses. In my experience, there are several advantages to living on-campus. First, since most students live in a residence hall based upon their chosen major, you are able to network with peers throughout the year. Second, laundry facilities and cable are free and available to residents. This may not seem like much, but you’ll see below that these perks do help you save money. There are, however, a couple of disadvantages to on-campus living. For one, privacy is limited because most students are assigned a roommate to share a living space. Second, ASU closes at certain times during the year, such as winter break, which means the dining halls are closed. This means you should plan to stock up on food if you plan on staying on campus during that time.
When considering the cost, there are some things to keep in mind: the university determines housing rates and students living on campus are required to purchase a meal plan. However, the cost for additional food (snacks) and amenities (such as hair products, body wash, toothpaste, etc.) will vary by student. Below is a list of my expenses during freshman year.
OFF-CAMPUS HOME LIVING
Attending college while having a family is possible. I interviewed ASU Ph.D. student Jameson D. (JD) Lopez (Quechan) to get a better picture of what his costs are for a family of four. JD lives in a home that is approximately 30 miles from the Tempe campus (his main campus). Although he sometimes has to make a commute to campus, he chose this living arrangement because it allows him to live in a more affordable, family-oriented neighborhood. JD indicated that the advantages of family living include having family support, which helps him remain grounded to the importance in life and also allows him to spend quality time with his kids. Of course there are some disadvantages to living far from campus, such as an increase in expenses related to transportation, gas and parking. [For campus parking areas refer to the map enclosed.]
*Parking Pass prices depend on location and whether you drive a motorcycle or vehicle. For ASU parking information, please visit: cfo.asu.edu/parking.
OFF-CAMPUS APARTMENT LIVING
I interviewed Sequoia Dance (Shoshone-Bannock/Assiniboine) to get a better idea of the costs of living in an off-campus apartment. Sequoia is a new graduate student from the state of Washington. According to Sequoia, one advantage of living in an apartment is having the flexibility of a lease, which allows you to stay for the duration of time that you’d like, and paying for rent on a monthly basis. Because she doesn’t have to pay the entire cost of housing at the beginning of the semester, this helps her budget her finances better. Disadvantages include commuting in traffic to and from ASU. As much as possible, Sequoia often uses the Light Rail and ASU campus shuttles to get around: cfo.asu.edu/transportation. [For shuttle stops refer to the map enclosed]. Sequoia recommends knowing your early morning and late afternoon routes ahead of time. When she does drive to campus, paying for parking is another disadvantage because the cost can add up over time, especially if you do not have a parking pass. Not only that, sometimes it can take longer than expected to find an open parking spot — so plan ahead!
*Amenities included with Monthly Rent (Water, Electricity, Internet, Garbage, Water, Sewer Gym, and a Swimming Pool). Note: The cost of living in an apartment will vary due to apartment style and location.
