LSU Offers Freshmen $3,000 to Live at Home This Semester

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB/Gray News) – Louisiana State University is offering some incoming freshmen $3,000 to live at home.

First-year students whose home is within 30 minutes of the LSU campus are eligible for the incentive.

LSU Executive Director of Residential Life Peter Trentacoste said there are more students interested in living on campus than expected.

He said the $3,000 incentive for commuters is part of LSU’s “occupancy management.”

Kayla Vine, a sophomore at LSU, said that while the incentive is beneficial for local students, she thinks LSU should add more housing options rather than convincing students to commute.

“I feel like LSU is getting a lot of money to build more freshman dorms, but I don’t know what they’re doing with that money. Eighty million dollars was spent on the LSU pool, so they’re spending it on all the amenities,” Vine said.

Vine is referring to the $85 million recreation center, which includes a lazy river shaped like the school’s initials, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

The $3,000 incentive to live at home opens up dorm spaces for out-of-state students like Cole Costello, who just got his dorm assignment.

“When I got the email about the limited dorm space, I was like, ‘OK, what’s next?’ So I was grateful that I was able to get a dorm. But I think for a lot of students, it’s a very unsettling email,” Costello said.

LSU said students still have plenty of ways to get involved, even if they don’t live on campus.

“LSU is absolutely committed to making sure that whether you live on campus or you’re a commuting student, you’re a Tiger, and we welcome you to campus and make sure you feel welcome and that this is your home,” Trentacoste said.

LSU Res Life said that once they reach a certain number of applicants, they will close the incentive program offering.