Gas prices in America

How they affect students

By Parker Beckham

For many college students, getting to class often also means getting behind the wheel. Whether they commute from home, drive to work after class or travel back and forth between campus and home, gas is a crucial expense that adds up quickly.

Gas prices have always been a concern for drivers, especially students. This concern has only grown along with the prices. As of Sept. 23, the average price for regular gas in Michigan is about $4.84 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association. Around the same time last year, a gallon of gas was $3.12, roughly a $1.72 increase in just one year.

For a student driving a vehicle with, let’s say a 15-gallon tank, at the current statewide average, it would cost around $73 to fill up their tank. A student that has to fill up even just once a week could spend up to $290 a month on gas alone.

For college students already paying for tuition, textbooks, food, possibly housing and other expenses, that extra cost makes a huge difference.

Students who commute to campus will likely feel the impact the most. Not every college student lives close enough to campus to walk, bike or use public transportation. Some students could end up driving upwards of 20, 30, or even more miles each way just to get to class.

Transportation costs can already make up a significant portion of a college student’s living expenses. A survey from the Trellis Company, a non-profit organization determined to empower people through post-secondary education, found that transportation costs, including gas, car maintenance, public transportation and parking, made up nearly 20% of students’ living expenses.

Higher gas prices don’t just affect school related commutes, they can also affect what students do outside of class as well. A student might think twice about driving to campus for an event, meeting up with friends across town or making an extra trip home when each trip expense adds up quickly.

It can also change how students plan their schedules. Instead of making several trips throughout the week, students may try to combine errands, carpool or schedule work and classes around the same days. Increases in fuel prices can lead students to reduce how often they drive, with the effects varying based on factors like income, vehicle ownership and distance.

Gas prices do not affect every student in the same way. Students who live on campus may have fewer transportation costs, while students commuting a long distance may end up spending a lot more. Students with more fuel-efficient cars may also end up spending less than those driving larger ones.

For students trying to save money, small changes can help. Doing multiple errands in one trip, carpooling with friends, comparing prices at different gas stations and avoiding unnecessary trips can reduce the amount of gas used.

For most college students, gas is not just a price listed on a sign. It can affect how often they drive, how they budget their money, and even how they spend their time outside of class. As prices continue to change, students who depend on their cars will have to keep finding ways to make their money stretch as far as possible.