UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Board of Trustees Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning approved today (July 16) a proposal that adjusts room and board rates for the fall 2020 semester in recognition of the University’s decision that Penn State will switch to remote instruction after Nov. 20.
When rates were approved by the Board of Trustees in February, the cost of a standard double room was set at $3,427 per semester, while the cost of the mid-level meal plan was set at $2,449 per semester. Together, this combination of room and board totaled $5,876 per semester.
Under the new proposal, the cost of a standard double room has been adjusted down by $607 to a total of cost of $2,820.
Similarly, the cost of the mid-level meal plan has been adjusted down by $256 to a total cost of $2,193.
Together, the cost of a standard double room and the mid-level meal plan for the fall 2020 semester comes to $5,013 – a total cost reduction of 14.7%.
Spring 2020 rates will remain unchanged, at this time, from the rates previously passed in February.
“We remain committed to the University-wide goal of minimizing student expenses,” said John Papazoglou, associate vice president for Auxiliary and Business Services. “The reduction represents a straight daily proration for both the room fee and the meal plan base component for the number of days in the remote learning period.”
Housing rates specific to each campus and various living units reflecting these changes will be found online at https://hfs.psu.edu/rates shortly after the proposal is approved by the full Board of Trustees on July 17.