On November 18, 2024, students at Davidson College received a familiar email in their inboxes: A message announcing higher tuition costs going into the next academic year. This declaration shook members of the Davidson community, with many expressing their disappointment that the Board of Trustees didn’t raise tuition even higher. 

There is a shared concern that Davidson is not overcharging enough for basic services. “I think Davidson needs a higher price tag to remain competitive with other colleges,” one student said. “Northwestern costs $94,878 without aid now. Our inability to keep up with these numbers is upsetting. It shows that we’ve really fallen behind.”

Students not on financial aid reflected a similar dissatisfaction. “How else am I supposed to flex that my parents are part of the 1%?” Thadeous Williamson III, a junior in SAE, questioned. 

hen asked for comment, administration provided a statement claiming that they are working hard to keep Davidson out of reach for lower to middle-class students while still maintaining a generous and inclusive exterior, and that we should expect greater numbers with even vaguer justification next year.

“The tuition raise does not affect our financial aid policy at all,” a staff member from the Office of Admission & Financial Aid, who wishes to remain anonymous, stated. “Because the number is so high to begin with, it really doesn’t matter because any little crumb we give to these students will look like a lot of money and we’ll still seem generous or whatever, even if we’re actually giving them nothing.” 

Director of Supplementary Assistance Dick Yorkipoo also weighed in on how Davidson can continue to bleed students dry through meal plans. “Two words: curing food insecurity on campus,” he said, holding up four fingers. “All we have to say is that we’re trying to force students to get the All-Access Unlimited Meal Plan, even though we’re discouraging food at eating houses and frats and raising the cost of food at Union and the Wildcat Den. We’re also keeping the amount of dining dollars the same, significantly lowering the buying power of each dining dollar. These silly little art majors will never see it coming.” 

It seems the large outcry has made its way to the administration, as word on the street says leaders are currently drafting a second tuition raise email that will be released on the Friday of Frolics weekend at 5:01 p.m., so no financial aid officers will be available to answer the few students who are checking their emails.