by Dick Hall-Sizemore
A common complaint, on Bacon’s Rebellion and generally, is about the high costs of colleges. I am usually sympathetic to such complaints. I see the projected costs of the higher ed institutions my grandkids are going to or are considering. But, then, I run across articles like this and this and I become very cynical.
For those of you who do not have access to the Washington Post and the New York Times, I will summarize the articles. They are about students and their parents spending tons of money to decorate their college dorm rooms. There is a whole market out there for items to decorate dorm rooms. Here is the result of a Google search of “Decorate dorm rooms.” The pictures are amazing.
And it is not just the cost of the furnishings. Many students hire specialized design consultants to help them make their dorm rooms “livable.” Costs vary, depending on the range of services desired. A full package can include consulting with the client over what is desired, selecting and procuring the furnishings, and showing up on move-in day to completely set up the room. It is big business in some areas. One dorm design consultant, who graduated from college in 2021 with a degree in integrated marketing communications (I have no idea what that entails), had more than 200 clients in 2024. She employed 25 seasonal employees. Her fee was $10,000 per room ($5,000 for each student). Another consultant, for a “basic bedding, design and decor package” typically charges “$2,500 in design and $3,500 in procurement.”
The National Retail Federation projects that Americans will spend $12.8 billion this year for dorm or college apartment furnishings. Keep in mind that this is for rooms that come already furnished by the college.
(more…)
