LSU offering freshmen $3,000 to live at home this semester

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

Incoming freshman with home addresses within 30 minutes of LSU's campus are eligible for the incentive.

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

He said the $3,000 commuter incentive is part of LSU's "occupancy management."

LSU Sophomore Kayla Vine said while this incentive is beneficial to local students, she thinks LSU should add more housing options rather than convincing students to commute.

"I feel that LSU gets a lot of money to build more dorms for freshmen, but I don't know what they do with the money. Eighty million dollars went to the LSU pool, so they spend it on all the amenities," Vine said.

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

The $3,000 live-at-home incentive is opening dorm spots up for out-of-state students like Cole Costello, who just recently got his dorm assignment.

"When I got the email about limited space with dorms, it was kind of that feeling of, 'OK what's next?' so I was thankful that I was able to get a dorm. But I think for a lot of students, it's a very troubling email," Costello said.

LSU said students still have many ways to get involved even if they do not live on campus.

"LSU is absolutely committed to making sure whether you live on campus or you're a commuter student, you are a tiger, and we're bringing you into the campus and making sure that you feel welcome and this is your home," Trentacoste said.

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