Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-24
Self-Supporting College Students.

President Nicholas Murray Butler of CO.
lumbia University tells me that 1t is
great mistake to suppose that 1t costs
more to get an education in New York city
than in the smaller cities and villages.
where most of the colleges and universities
are located. He contends that students of
small income can do even better New
York than in most university towns, and,
as well as in any, first, because the ex-
pepSeS of living are almost as low, and
second, because the opportunities for
self-supporting student to earn money are
much better.
Contrary to the general impression, the
cost of student life at Columbia University
is low" said President Butler. In the
residence halls, which are absolutely fire
proof rooms may be had which provide hot
and cold water, steam heat and electric
lights. fully and comfortably furnished, at
an average cost of S130 for the academic
year. Excellent board either at the uni
versity commons or in the immediate vicin-
ity of the university. can be had from
81. 30 to $3.50 week The minimum eX-
pense of student during the last academic
year, based upon actual experience. was
$3.50. This included q tuition fee of 500
and board for thirty-seven weeks, at
total cost of s146. The average expense
of all students in the academic department
of the university is $6io year. A liberal
allowance is $S15 year and upward so
that you will see that Columbia is By no
means a rich mans college. and the cost
of getting an education here is not greater
than it . in any of the large institutions.
An unusually large proportion of the
students at Columbia pay their academic
expenses by their own efforts This is pos
sible because the city of New York offers
unlimited opportunities which do not exist
in smaller towns Our committee of aid
to students, composed of representatives of
the different faculties, is active and earnest
in securing employment for students who
desire il. and last year about $1Vo,0oo was
earned by students for whom employment
was obtained by this COmmittee-StuGents
who were trying TO meet. in whole or in
part the cost of their own education The
spirit of Columbia is absolutely democratic.
the very poor the graduates OF the aristo-
cratic fitting schools of New England and
those OF the public high schools of New
York and the west, sit side by side in the
class room, meet on equal terms In the
gymnasium and the athletic field, and rec
ugnize no caste or distinctions except that
of ability. character and individuality. In
several cases that ] might mention If it
were proper to do so, wealth has been a
serious handicap to certain students. while
a young man with u small income, wholly
or partially derived from his efforts,
is pretty certain 10 command the respect,
ii not the admiration, Of his comrades. il
his personal character makes him worthy
II them.
The most available and profitable means
of paving expenses are found In private
tutoring stenography, typewriting teach
ing in evening schools, translatns. copy
ing acting as agents and statesmen prt-
vats. secretaries. singing in church chofrs,
collecting bills and in various similar ca
pacities.