College merchandise is too expensive

Now as a second-semester senior, I have naturally begun to browse college merchandise. But one recurring theme I’ve noticed is that official merchandise is usually overpriced and way too expensive for my soon-to-be-broke college-self.

For just a university logo printed on an article of clothing, students may have to spend $35 on T-shirts and $75 on hoodies. To combat these costs, some prospective students have considered making their own unofficial gear through custom T-shirt printing sites; however, colleges have also cracked down on these unauthorized versions of college merchandise, effectively barring us from wearing more affordable alternatives.

With all the money universities receive from tuition, fees and endowments, it seems they afford to make merchandise cheaper. Even if schools sell their merch through third-party stores, they could still provide annual subsidies to lower their prices and make hoodies cheaper than $75. Or, they could at least allow us students to make our own versions of clothing if we don’t want to pay the premium price for a hoodie or T-shirt.

College gear should not cost so much, especially when families already have to fork out tens of thousands of dollars in tuition.