Zbc Coet of Hn iei)ucation at Princeton ^be Coet of an i£&ucatlon at Princeton ifacts, ^iQmce anD %cttcte from StuDentg wbo pas tbeir own was. Mttb an UntroDuctors note bs president ipatton. Princeton SLu^ust, 1890. INTRODUCTORY NOTE, 'THE facts detailed in this pamphlet have been col- lected during the last academic year by means of an investigation conducted by Mr. James W. Alex- ander, of the Board of Trustees, and Professor W. M. Sloane, of the Faculty of Princeton University. The material thus collected has been digested and arranged by Mr. Edwin M. Norris, a graduate of Princeton University in the class of 1895. The information comes in every instance from students of character and stand- ing, and may be depended upon as giving a thoroughly reliable exhibit of what constitutes necessary and rea- sonable expenses for students of small and moderate means at Princeton University at the present time. Francis L. Patton, President of Princeton University. Princeton, August, 1896. EXPENSES AT PRINCETON This pamphlet is published for the definite purpose of counteracting the; effect of certain rumors which have been recently spread abroad, concerning the ex- penses of students at Princeton. These rumors are to the effect that with the expansion of Princeton College into Princeton University, a corresponding expansion has taken place in point of the cost of securing an edu- cation at Princeton. Princeton is no longer the small college of sixteen professors and 250 students it was when in 1868 Doctor McCosh assumed the Presidency. The college has put behind it the day of small things. Within the last twenty-five years the membership of the faculty has increased five-fold, and the number of students has increased more than four-fold. The little campus of a few acres has grown to the proportions of a large university park, dotted with buildings to the num- ber of thirty-five, where formerly there were but nine. Meantime many sons of wealthy families have been attracted to Princeton by the improved educational advantages. Some have had large allowances, and a few have had very little limitation placed upon their purses. Reports of the large expenses of such men may have led to the very superficial belief, among people who have not opportunity to learn the full truth, that a poor boy, or one of limited means, can no longer take full advantage of the educational oppor- tunities offered at Princeton. But such a belief could arise only from an ignorance of the facts, for a little attention to facts and figures will show conclusively that Princeton has not become a rich man's college, but, on the contrary, that its advantages are at the present time as accessible as they ever were to a stu- dent of moderate means, and furthermore, that the very fact of its great expansion has given rise to a condition of life which enables the poor student, who is at the same time a really intelligent and energetic man, to pursue his studies at Princeton to better pecu- niary advantage than he could do in the day of small things. I. The student of moderate means may be character- ized as the prevailing type at Princeton. He maintains a creditable standing in his class and finds time to play baseball, football, tennis, or engage in some of the other branches of college athletics, as his tastes dictate. He may represent his college on a 'varsity team. He also finds time to read a good deal, to engage in hall work or write for the college press; to become acquainted with nearly if not quite the entire student body, and has ample opportunity to make many warm friendships* He takes college honors of some sort, and is quite likely to be chosen by his classmates as one of the orators for class-day. This typical Princeton man stands on his merits and enjoys the respect of his fellow-students. His life on the campus, in the class-room, on the ath- letic field and at his boarding club is taken as the meas- ure of his real worth, and length of purse and ancestry are of equally small value in the democratic atmosphere in which he finds himself. He lives comfortably, find- ing it unnecessary to stint himself in money matters, and his annual expenses are covered by the modest sum of $500 or less. That this is no mere fancy but is a fact which can be substantiated by figures, it is easy to prove. If any one is incredulous on this point, let him ponder the following statistics; they have been collected dur- ing the past year, for the purposes of this pamphlet, and are entirely reliable. Three recent classes are represented, including the last senior class. The honormen of these classes have been chosen, because such men, particularly the second group men, are gen- erally acknowledged to be the representative men of the college. In one of these classes, seven of the first group men in the academic department, graduating with the dis- tinction of Magna cum laude^ have reported the fol- lowing expenses: Freshman Year. Sophomore Year. Junior Year. Senior Year. Mr. A. $270 00 $250 00 $250 00 $300 00 Mr. B. 500 00 350 00 400 00 400 00 Mr. C. 500 00 500 00 500 00 500 GO Mr. D. 450 00 400 00 400 00 400 GO Mr. K. 700 00 700 00 700 00 70G 00 Mr. F. 400 00 400 00 450 00 50G GO Mr. G. 400 00 300 00 325 00 450 GO If the average yearly expenses of this group of men be taken, they will be found to be §442.68. The annual outlay of one of these men averaged less than $300 and of another less than $400. For the last three years, four of the seven expended $400 and under annually. A glance at the expenses of the second group {Cu7n laude) men of the same class is quite as interesting. The expense statistics of twenty-four men of this group are as follows: Freshman Year. Sophomore Year. Jl'NIOR Year. Senior Year. Mr. A. $325 00 $350 00 $350 00 $400 00 Mr. B. 450 00 500 00 450 00 400 00 Mr. C. 500 (DO 500 00 500 00 600 00 Mr. D. 390 00 350 00 350 00 350 00 Mr. E. 275 00 300 00 350 00 400 00 Mr. F. 350 00 400 00 400 00 400 OG Mr. G. 300 00 300 00 275 00 300 GO Mr. H. 350 00 400 00 400 00 500 GG Mr. I. 450 00 465 00 440 00 450 00 Mr. J. 500 00 500 00 500 00 500 00 Mr. K. 500 00 500 00 500 00 500 00 Mr. L. 600 00 600 00 600 00 600 00 Mr. M. 400 00 650 00 500 00 700 00 Mr. N. 350 00 350 00 350 00 350 GO Mr. 0. 250 00 250 00 300 00 300 00 Mr. P. 500 CO 500 00 6gg gg 7OG GO Mr. Q. 350 00 350 00 3OG GO 4GG GO Mr. R. 400 00 400 GO 400 GO 4OG GG Mr. S. 500 00 500 00 600 OG 600 GO Mr. T. 350 00 350 00 400 GO 400 GO Mr. U. 300 00 400 00 400 GO 3OG GO Mr. V. 350 GO 325 GO 325 OG 450 00 Mr. W. 500 GO 5GO 00 500 GO 6go go Mr. X. 350 00 350 CO 300 00 350 00 The average man of these twenty-four members of the second group expended $423,122 each year of his college course. Thirteen of the twenty-four actually expended less than $400 a year, and of all these honor men of this class, one-third paid for their college course with an outlay of less than $400 annually. Take another class. A condensation of the expense statistics of the entire first group {Magna cum laude) shows the following results: Mr. A. averaged $350.00 a year, Mr. B. averaged 600.00 a year, Mr. C. averaged §Soo.oo a year, Mr, D. averaged 400.00 a year, Mr. E. averaged 600.00 a year, Mr. F. averaged 350.00 a year, Mr. G. averaged 300.00 a year. Four out of the seven in this list expended less than $400 a year. Two of these men supported them- selves in part, and one of them was a prominent ath- lete, and at the end of his course received the vote of his class for the best all-around man in the class. The condensed statistics of the second-group {Cum lauJe) men of the same class, while showing a slightly higher average expenditure, are worthy of consideration in this connection. Here are the figures: No. I averaged $500.00 a year, No. 2 averaged 500.00 a year, No. 3 averaged 600.00 a year, No. 4 averaged 500.00 a year, No. 5 averaged 400.00 a year. No. 6 averaged 500.00 a year, No. 7 averaged 500.00 a year, No. 8 averaged 500.00 a year, No. 9 averaged 450.00 a year. No. 10 averaged 550.00 a year. No. II averaged 500.00 a year. No. 12 averaged 550.00 a year, No. 13 averaged 700.00 a year. No. 14 averaged 450.00 a year, No. 15 averaged 600.00 a year. No. 16 averaged 600.00 a year, No. 17 averaged 400.00 a year. No. 18 averaged 400.00 a year. No. 19 averaged 1,000.00 a year. No. 20 averaged 500.00 a year, No. 21 averaged Soo.oo a year. No. 22 averaged 350.00 a year, 8 No. 23 averaged $600.00 a year, No. 24 averaged 400.00 a year, No. 25 averaged 700.00 a year, No. 26 averaged 400.00 a year, No. 27 averaged 400,00 a year, No. 28 averaged 450.00 a year. No. 29 averaged 500.00 a year, No. 30 averaged 400.00 a year, No. 31 averaged 600.00 a year. No. 32 averaged 550.00 a year. No. 33 averaged 500.00 a year, No. 34 averaged 600.00 a year, No. 35 averaged 400.00 a year. Of these thirty-five second group men, twenty-two expended $500 and less per annum. One of them sup- ported himself entirely and another supported himself in part. The class had an unusual number of men of ample means, and the average expenses are conse- quently higher than those of other classes. A glance at another class shows a lower average. This class contained an unusual number of hard stu- dents, and the honor list is accordingly large. Of the fifteen men receiving high general honors, or Magna cum laude, the following condensed statistics are noteworthy: Mr. A. averaged $500.00 a year, Mr. B. averaged 475.00 a year, Mr. C. averaged 410.00 a year, Mr. D. averaged 400.00 a year, Mr. E. averaged 800.00 a year, Mr. F. averaged 460.00 a yeax, Mr. G. averaged 680.00 a year, Mr. H. averaged 700.00 a year, Mr. I. averaged 425.00 a year, Mr. J. averaged 500.00 a year, Mr. K. averaged 400.00 a year. Mr. L. averaged ?40o.oo a year, Mr. M. averaged 350.00 a year, Mr. N. averaged 400.00 a year, Mr. O. averaged 430.00 a year. Twelve of these, or three-fourths of the entire first group, paid for their college course at an expense of $500 or under per year. Four spent $400 or less a year; four supported themselves in part, and one paid nearly half his college bills from prizes which he won at Prince- ton. The average yearly expenses of the entire fifteen were $488.66!. The second group men of the same class had the follQwing average expenses: No. I averaged $600.00 a year, No. 2 averaged 400.00 a year, No. 3 averaged 500.00 a year, No. 4 averaged 400.00 a year. No. 5 averaged 700.00 a year. No. 6 averaged 250.00 a year, No. 7 averaged 300.00 a year, No. 8 averaged 300.00 a year. No. 9 averaged 800.00 a year. No. 10 averaged 325-00 a year. No. It averaged 230.00 a year. No. 12 averaged 475-00 a year, No. 13 averaged 400.00 a year. No. 14 averaged 500.00 a year, No. 15 averaged 500.00 a year. No. 16 averaged 450.00 a year. No. 17 averaged 575-00 a year. No. iS averaged 475-00 a year. No. 19 averaged 325.00 a year, No. 20 averaged 250.00 a year. No. 21 averaged 350.00 a year, No. 22 averaged 315.00 a year. No. 23 averaged 700.00 a year, lO No. 24 averaged $500.00 a year, No. 25 averaged 300.00 a year, No. 26 averaged 400.00 a year, No. 27 averaged 275.00 a year, No. 2S averaged 460.00 a year. No. 29 averaged 325.00 a year. No. 30 averaged 600.00 a year, No. 31 averaged 700.00 a year, No. 32 averaged 800.00 a year, No. 33 averaged 800.00 a year, No. 34 averaged 350.00 a year, No. 35 averaged 300.00 a year. No. 36 averaged 600.00 a year, No. 37 averaged 400.00 a year. No. 38 averaged 650.00 a year. No. 39 averaged 400.00 a year. Twenty-eight, or nearly three-fourths of these thirty- nine second group men expended $500 or less each year; twenty, or over one-half, expended $400 or less; five of them supported themselves in part, and two supported themselves entirely. If the two groups of honormen of this class be taken together, of the fifty- four, forty, or nearly three-fourths, expended $500 a year or less; twenty-four of the fifty- four expended $400 or less. These men are the hard students of the class, but they are not ''polers" only. Among these lists are represented the social element of the class, no less than the literary and athletic elements. One-fourth of them are members of the senior and junior social clubs. They are the men who support the literary societies, maintain the religious work amongst the stu- dents, represent the college in intercollegiate debate, edit the undergraduate publications — in short, the solid men of the class. II II. But gratifying as are these statistics showing the average annual expenses of these representative Prince- ton students of moderate means to be $500 and under, it must not be forgotten that for the student of very narrow means the argument from ''average expenses" is practically worthless. For while a hundred men of moderate means may live comfortably and respectably on $500 per year at Princeton, a few students with large means are necessarily included in any calculation like the above, and their high and unnecessary expend- itures come in to raise the average and so impair the value of the calculation. For the poor student, not the average expenses computed from the expenditures of all the men at the university, but the minimum ex- pense, is the proper basis of calculation. He does not ask for a theoretical mean, but for a practical minimum. He wants to know what is the least practicable expense for a poor man to incur in going through Princeton. To such an inquirer it is hoped that the letters appended to this pamphlet will prove of interest and benefit. These letters speak for themselves and need little ex- planation. They tell in very plain language what has been done, and since they were all written by men now in college or but recently graduated, they may be confi- dently accepted as indicating to a certainty what can be done at Princeton at this present time by men of the right sort. The original letters, copies of which are here appended, are signed by their writers, and each student who writes is personally known to the professor who collected the letters. These letters demonstrate beyond peradventure that the growth of 13 Princeton College into Princeton University has brought with it a condition of academic life which enables the man of extremely narrow means, provided he have energy and ability, to pursue his course of higher edu- cation to better pecuniary advantage than he could have done at any time in the past history of the insti- tution. And this is true, because a larger institution provides larger opportunities for self-help. Opportu- nities for tutoring are numerous, at remunerative rates of compensation, and men are not wanting who have paid their entire college expenses by this means. Op- portunities for paying one's board by means of "run- ning a club" are open to capable men, after they have formed acquaintances in college. Agencies held for commercial houses in the neighboring cities contribute to the partial support of a limited number of students. In addition, there are a great many minor ways of helping out one's expenses, but these are too various to be set down in detail in this place. But it should be carefully borne in mind that all this is addressed to men of good health, energy and ability. It should be especially understood that it is not said to encourage the dull and commonplace man to hope to pay his way at Princeton, for the students who pay their own way through Princeton are and must be bright, enterprising men, of more than average ability. The frequent references, in these letters, to aid re- ceived from the college, may be explained by turning to page 156 of the last annual catalogue of the College, where will be found the statement that it is the policy of the College to remit, on application, a portion of 13 the tuition ($100.00 of the $150.00) in the Academic De- partment *' of candidates for the ministry, of sons of ministers, and also of other applicants who present satisfactory testimonials of good moral character and of more than ordinary intellectual ability with the as- surance that the aid requested is absolutely needed. In the case of students who are neither candidates for the ministry nor the sons of ministers, the remission of tuition is to be regarded as a loan (without interest) to be repaid to the College whenever it can be done without serious financial embarrassment." Particular attention is called to the fact that the appended letters show that bright students who are economical in their habits can go through Princeton for less than $300 a year, provided they obtain a schol- arship. It is also plain that this sum may be reduced by taking advantage of the opportunities for self-help during their college course. In fact, many men man- age to [go through in this way practically with no expense. 14 Following are the letters referred to above, as writ- ten by the students themselves. Princeton, N. J., Jan. 22, 1896. Prof. Sloane: Dear Sir — My college expenses at Princeton for two years (estimating the expense for the remainder of this year) have been about $500. This doesn't include clothes and travelling expenses. My tuition is $50. Resp't, Professor W. M. Sloane: Dear Sir — The following account is an approxi- mate estimate of all necessary expenses in my college year. My allowance is $16.00 a month or $160.00 for the college year. Dues, games, periodicals, etc . $25 00 Books 20 00 Car fare I5 oo Clothes 50 00 Current expenses 50 00 $160 00 College bills 240 00 $400 00 Very truly yours, January 22, '96, Class of 1897. 15 Dear Prof. Sloane: I send you a condensed statement of my college expenses, in accordance with your request. 1S92-93 1S93-94 1894-95 1S65-96 Room rent (including furni ture, light, heat, etc.) Board Washing College public room fees Books (estimate). . . $144 00 $72 00 $72 GO $72 GO 116 00 116 GO 72 00 72 00 18 00 10 GO IG GO 10 00 25 00 25 00 25 GO 25 GO 25 00 15 00 8 GO 3 00 $328 00 $238 00 $187 00 S1S2 GO Very sincerely, Princeton, Jan. 22, 1896. Professor W. M. Sloane: Dear Sir — My expenses are as follows: Board $126 oo Washing 9 oo Tuition 150 00 Room rent 40 oo Fuel and light 19 oo Text books, etc 18 oo Incidentals 10 00 Total $372 GO This list is exclusive of travelling expenses, hall and other dues and expenditures which are not inci- dental to the obtaining of an education at Princeton. Sincerely yours, i6 To Prof. W. M. Sloane: Estimate of expenses. College bills, $89 50 Furniture, , . 30 50 Doctor bills, ...... 20 00 Books, dues, etc , 25 00 Clothing, etc 50 00 Games and trips 25 00 Traveling expenses. . . - . 20 00 Incidentals 24 00 $284 00 No tuition paid, and board bill cancelled by running a club. Princeton, N. J., Jan. 22, 1896. Professor William M. Sloane: My dear Sir — Below please find approximate state- ment of my college expenses for one year based upon two years* experience. College bill $80 00 Various societies 15 00 Books and stationery. . . . 25 00 Subscriptions 5 00 Athletics, including games. . . 25 00 Laundry bill 15 00 Miscellaneous 10 00 Total §175 00 The above is my outside figure, of course omitting tuition and boarding. Very sincerely yours. 17 Princeton, 12-13-95. Prof. Sloane: Dear Sir — My college expenses in Princeton dur- ing my freshman year for tuition, board and fuel were $452. For travelling expenses and all other outlays I did not exceed $150, making a total of $602. For my sophomore year my expenses were about $50 less — due to cheaper rent of rooms in the college buildings. My expenses this year will be about the same as last. I consider that I am living comfortably, without being either prodigal or niggardly. Respectfully yours, Prof. William M. Sloane, 95 Bayard Ave., Princeton. Dear Prof. Sloane: Here is the statement of my college expenses which you asked me to make: freshman year. First term college bill. Second term college bill Other expenses. . , Total sophomore First term college bill. Second term college bill Other expenses . . , Total. EAR $103 50 109 75 36 75 $250 00 $57 00 40.50 32 50 $130 00 i8 JUNIOR YEAR. First term college bill. . . . $87 93 Other expenses 12 07 Total (first term). . . . $100 00 Yours very truly, Jan. 18, '96. Princeton, Jan. 27, 1896. Dear Sir: Enclosed is my expense account for one college year, 1895-96, if it is not too late to be of use to you» For board $72 00 Tuition 80 00 Room rent 19 00 Fuel 5 00 Gas 6 00 Total (one term). . . . $182 00 2 Total (one year). . . . $364 00 Monthly allowance $20. . . . 1 80 00 $544 00 The monthly allowance includes all such expenses as clothes-wash, college papers, general spending money, &c., &c., so that $90 or $100 could be subtracted as not coming directly under college expenses. My room-mate's expenses are about the same, ex- cepting $180 for board instead of §144. Respectfully, / 19 Professor Sloane: Dear Sir — In response to your request for an esti- mate of expenses during a year here at college, I send you this tardy statement. $ioo of the tuition charge is excused, because of my intention to study for the ministry, so that leaves — $50.00 a year for tuition, 20.00 a year for room rent, 11.00 a year for coal deposit, 18.00 a year for gas deposit, 140.00 a year for board, $239.00 as a total for the year. Besides this, as you asked for personal expenses, I will say that the last two years, when my expenditures have been much less than formerly, I have spent about $30 for clothing, and, I think, $15 additional for inci- dentals. From this may be subtracted $10 each term for acting as ''spotter" in your senior lecture room. Very truly yours. Jan. 15, 1896. Dear Sir: In accordance with your request, I send you a list of my college expenses. FRESHMAN YEAR. Board, 36 weeks at $3.35. • • ?I20 60 Room fees 50 00 Fuel 6 00 Clothing (estimated) 90 00 Travelling, books, etc. (estimated) 150 00 Total $416 60 20 Sophomore year the same except that I paid $3.50 for board, making the total $422.00. JUNIOR YEAR. Board, 36 weeks at $4.00. . . $144 00 Room fees 50 00 Fuel 6 00 Clothing- (estimated), ... 90 00 Travelling, books, etc., (estimated) 175 00 Total $465 00 I have made my estimate high and think that if I had the exact figures the total would be somewhat lower. This year, with commencement expenses in- cluded, will be no higher than junior year. Very truly yours, Jan. 9, '96. Princeton, June 18. Prof. W. M. Sloane, Princeton, N. J. Dear Sir — In compliance with your request, There- with submit estimate of expenses incurred during one year at Princeton College. I secured an eating club, which paid board bills for the year, and a scholarship •of $100. My actual expenses then were: Railroad fare, Boston, . . . I 7 50 Tuition, 50 00 Room rent, 40 00 Fuel and light, 8 00 Washing, 14 00 Spending money, . , . . , 18 00 $137 50 No new clothing needed. It is by no means a difficult matter for a man with determination and some ability to earn his entire way thro' college by economy and work during time not required by studies. Very resp'y yours, Princeton, Dec. 12, 1896. Dear Professor Sloane: It is very gratifying indeed to learn that a correct statement is going to be announced through the press as to the expenses at Princeton. Only a year ago I asked a young man from my town why he did not come to Princeton instead of going to Lafayette, and he re- plied he could not afford it. According to your request I submit a statement of my expenses. For freshman year, not including clothing, R. R. fare, Hall and Y. M. C. A. dues and incidentals, my actual ex- pense was $220 33 Aid received from the scholarship fund and the Board of Education, 130 00 My own actual expense, 9° 33 Sophomore year, under above conditions, actual expense, . 87 70 For the present year, it will not be quite as much as last year. During the past year we have had our room furnished, papered and fixed up very comfort- ably, and that was included in the above. Now, this, of course, means the closest kind of economy, but not to the extent of stinting one's self. Any further in- formation that I can give for the interests of the col- lege will be gladly furnished upon request. Yours truly, 22 Prof. W. M. Sloane: Dear Sir — In pursuance of your request, I have made out a statement as to my yearly expenses. The totals are correct if the various items may not be ex- actly so. I would state that of the amount expended the second year, I earned (part) here in college dur- ing that year. First Second Year. Year. Board $io8 oo $93 00 R