If you’re a freshman headed to Texas Tech, congratulations! You’re probably feeling pretty spiffy, and you should. You’ve worked your buns off to get there. And what’s more? You’re officially an adult! You can vote, sign contracts, and make a ton of questionable financial decisions all by your lonesome…
But apparently, you can’t necessarily decide for yourself where to live.
Texas Tech University requires first-year students to live in campus housing unless they qualify for an exemption. Tech says the policy is all about student success and cites research that suggests students who live on campus are much more likely to stay enrolled and have higher GPAs.
And, well, fair enough.
But here’s where I start scratching my head like a little goblin…
For the 2026-2027 academic year, a traditional double room at Texas Tech University costs $5275. Students living on campus are also required to purchase a dining plan. The Matador Plan (the cheapest option) is $3,970.
Do you have your calculator handy?
That’s a whopping $9,245 for housing and dining before your books, tuition, and all of the other fees that college manages to charge…