If you are looking for a dorm that offers a vibrant social life, spacious rooms, and convenient location, you might want to consider Arizona-Sonora (AZ-SO) at the University of Arizona. AZ-SO is one of the largest and most popular dorms on campus, with 400 residents living in two nine-story towers. But how much does it cost to live in this dorm, and what are the benefits and drawbacks of choosing it? In this post, we will answer these questions and more, so you can make an informed decision about your housing options.

The cost of living in Arizona-Sonora dorm ranges from $9,270 to $13,900 per year, depending on the room type and meal plan. This is comparable to other dorms on campus and similar schools in the region.

Arizona-Sonora Dorm Room Options

Arizona-Sonora offers two types of rooms: single and double. Both types are co-ed and feature a shared bathroom with the adjacent room. The rooms are furnished with twin XL beds, dressers, closets, desks, chairs, waste baskets, and basic cable. The rooms also have large windows that provide natural light and views of the campus or the city.

The main difference between the single and double rooms is the size and occupancy. Single rooms are smaller and accommodate one person, while double rooms are larger and accommodate two people. The cost of the room also varies depending on the type. Here is a comparison chart of the room options:

Arizona-Sonora Meal Plans

In addition to the room cost, students living in Arizona-Sonora must also purchase a meal plan from the university. Meal plans provide students with access to various dining locations on campus, including cafeterias, markets, cafes, food courts, and vending machines. Meal plans consist of two components: meals per week and M&G dollars.

Meals per week are the number of times students can eat at any of the all-you-care-to-eat (cafeteria) restaurants on campus. M&G dollars are funds that students can use at any of the other dining locations on campus. M&G dollars roll over from semester to semester as long as students are enrolled at the university.

The university offers four types of meal plans for students living in Arizona-Sonora:

The total cost of living in Arizona-Sonora dorm depends on the combination of room type and meal plan chosen by the student. For example, a student who chooses a single room and an unlimited meal plan would pay $6,950 + $3,180 = $10,130 per semester or $20,260 per year. A student who chooses a double room and a gold meal plan would pay $4,635 + $1,740 = $6,375 per semester or $12,750 per year.

Arizona-Sonora Dorm Cost Comparison

How does Arizona-Sonora dorm compare to other dorms on campus and similar schools in the region? According to College Factual website (https://www.collegefactual.com/colleges/university-of-arizona/paying-for-college/room-and-board/), the average cost of room and board at the University of Arizona is $13,950 per year. This is slightly lower than the national average of $14,738 per year (https://www.collegefactual.com/colleges/university-of-arizona/paying-for-college/room-and-board/). However, this average includes both on-campus and off-campus housing options. If we only look at on-campus housing options (https://housing.arizona.edu/housing-costs), we can see that Arizona-Sonora is one of the more affordable dorms on campus:

As we can see, Arizona-Sonora is cheaper than some of the newer and more luxurious dorms on campus, such as Árbol de la Vida, Colonia de la Paz, Coronado, Likins, and Honors Village. It is also more expensive than some of the older and smaller dorms on campus, such as Babcock, Gila, Manzanita-Mohave, and Pima. However, Arizona-Sonora offers more space, amenities, and social opportunities than these dorms.

If we compare Arizona-Sonora to similar schools in the region (https://www.collegefactual.com/colleges/university-of-arizona/paying-for-college/room-and-board/#:~:text=The%20University%20of%20Arizona%20prices%20housing%20and%20dining%20separately.,the%20average%20cost%20of%20$14%2C738.), we can see that it is also competitive in terms of pricing and value for money:

As we can see, Arizona-Sonora is cheaper than most of the comparable dorms at other schools in the region. It is only slightly more expensive than Sonora Center at Arizona State University and Dayton Complex at University of Nevada Las Vegas. However, it offers more features and benefits than these dorms. For example, Sonora Center does not have a cafeteria on site and requires students to walk to other dining halls on campus (https://housing.asu.edu/housing-communities/residential-colleges/sonora-center). Dayton Complex does not have package lockers or a modern streetcar line nearby (https://www.unlv.edu/housing/dayton).

FAQs About Arizona-Sonora Dorm Cost

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the cost of living in Arizona-Sonora dorm at the University of Arizona:

Q: How can I pay for my dorm room and meal plan?

A: You can pay for your dorm room and meal plan online through your UAccess Student Center account. You can also pay by mail or in person at the Bursar’s Office. You can choose to pay in full or in installments. For more information on payment options and deadlines, visit the Bursar’s Office website (https://bursar.arizona.edu/students).

Q: Are there any additional fees or expenses associated with living in Arizona-Sonora dorm?

A: Yes, there are some additional fees and expenses that you should be aware of. These include:

• A non-refundable housing application fee of $150 that is due when you submit your housing application.