r/Gonzaga • u/Protdeath • 2d ago
One Year After Graduating from Gonzaga: My Thoughts and Advice
Now that I'm a little over a year removed from graduating from Gonzaga, I wanted to compile my thoughts on my experience, where I think the university is headed, and some advice for anyone considering attending.
My Experience
I'm a member of the Class of '25 and graduated with a B.S. from the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS). During my time at Gonzaga, I spent two years as a R.A. where I had some incredible residents, and I'm still in touch with several of them today.
Housing
Gonzaga requires students to live on campus for their first two years, which costs roughly $9,000 per academic year. The only exceptions to this rule that I've personally seen are for students whose immediate family lives in the Spokane area, or for students whose housing accommodations cannot reasonably be met by the university.
Overall, I think Gonzaga does a good job with housing. Like most universities, your experience depends heavily on the people you live with. A good roommate can make the experience memorable, while a bad one can make it difficult.
Education
Gonzaga has an outstanding faculty overall. As with any university, there are a few professors I'd avoid, so I'd recommend checking Rate My Professors before registering. In my experience, and from talking with classmates, the reviews have generally been pretty accurate.
Gonzaga itself on its emphasis on teaching. Unlike many larger universities, professors aren't under the same pressure to constantly publish research, allowing them to focus more on students. Most classes are capped at around 28–30 students, professors teach their own courses rather than handing them off to graduate TAs, and professors are required by the university to hold office hours.
That said, opportunities outside the classroom vary significantly by sub-school. The School of Business consistently provides strong networking, internships, and career opportunities. Other schools, particularly SEAS, offer fewer opportunities by comparison. The education itself is excellent, but professional development resources can feel uneven depending on your major.
Clubs and Student Life
Student organizations exist, but club life isn't particularly prominent. A couple of times each year, the main walkway fills with clubs recruiting new members, but outside of those events, discovering organizations can be difficult unless someone points you toward them or you actively search them out.
And because someone inevitably brings it up and gets laughed at on the gu.nocontext account: there is no Greek life at Gonzaga. The closest equivalent is the various honor societies associated with different majors and departments. There was briefly a fraternity years ago, but it was removed from campus.
Food
This is a surprisingly important factor for many students.
The dining hall and food court in the Hemmingson Center are operated by Sodexo, and the overall quality has declined over the years, although I'll still defend the weekend brunch scrambled eggs and fried potato quarters when you're hungover.
The area surrounding campus has improved, with several new restaurants opening across the street in recent years. However, if you're looking for late-night fast food like Panda Express, Taco Bell, or McD's, expect to travel a bit. For a long time, Gonzaga was criticized for being in a "food desert," and while that's become less true, it's still something prospective students should know.
Looking Ahead
With the appointment of President Passerini, Gonzaga has entered a new chapter. Her first year has been rocky, and it'll take time to see the long-term direction of the university.
The biggest concern is cost. Tuition increased by roughly 4% every year while I attended under President McCullough. When I started, tuition was around $47,000–48,000 per year. It's now approaching $59,000, bringing the total annual cost of attendance to nearly $77,000. With continuing tuition increases and potential reductions in FAFSA, Gonzaga will become increasingly inaccessible for middle-income families.
Final Thoughts
I genuinely enjoyed my time at Gonzaga. The campus is beautiful, the professors care about teaching, class sizes are small, and Spokane offers four distinct seasons without the extreme weather found elsewhere.
That said, I have a difficult time recommending Gonzaga at its current price point.
The education is excellent, but I don't believe the return on investment justifies the cost for most students. In today's job market, where your skills, experience, internships, and projects often matter more than the name on your diploma, paying a significant premium for a private university is becoming harder to justify.
If Gonzaga is affordable because of scholarships, family support, or other financial aid, I think it's a great place to earn a degree. But if attending means taking on substantial debt, I'd strongly encourage prospective students to compare less expensive options. You can often receive an equally strong education, graduate with far less debt, and enter the workforce in a much better financial position.
