College Student Spending Power Flat This Year

After a big jump last year, discretionary spending by college students is expected to remain largely flat this year at $117 billion, per the latest College Explorer report from re:fuel. That remains significantly above discretionary spending power from 2009-2011, though, which stood at roughly $90 billion. Factoring in $287 billion in non-discretionary spending (on items such as room and board, tuition), the total college market’s spending power is estimated to be $404 billion this year, down only slightly from last year’s $409 billion. (more…)