The life of a cash-strapped college student doesn’t have to be a mundane one. Free opportunities to be connected, entertained, and inspired await on every campus! Here are some examples of free events to look out for at your school and how to find them.
University athletics
Ready to root? Sporting events on college campuses usually guarantee free or heavily discounted admission for the student body with just a flash of a student ID. Attending these events shows your support for your college teams and also offers a chance for you to socialize and make new friends while rooting for your school. Also, the public hype for athletic events could potentially mean student freebies such as food and school merch—it’s a double score!
The arts
Are you feeling artistic? The Department of Arts and Humanities offers a colorful selection of free events for students. Scope out on-campus concerts, film screenings, and student art exhibitions that are free for the student body to admire. Be entertained by the indie filmmaking of your school’s Film majors or be moved by the thespians performing at the college theater. At low to zero cost, you can experience and support the creative minds of local artists and your fellow peers.
Related: 6 Important Ways to Get Involved on Campus
Speeches and lectures
Looking to be inspired? Readings by authors, speeches of political figures, and even the lectures of your professors are all offered free for students on campus. Famous, local, and socially active figures often arrange to speak at universities and colleges to address a variety of topics. However, if the idea of sitting through another lecture fails to excite you, bear in mind this form of entertainment can also be a networking opportunity. You’ll have the chance to become acquainted with business figures who may be a connection to future employers. You’ll also meet like-minded people, as you’ll be in an audience of individuals who are interested in learning about the same topics as you.
Fine campus dining
Out for a bite? Free food is a universally loved college perk. The open access to on-campus events often includes this bonus. Student volunteer events, job networking fairs, club/organization events, and more can often be found catered by food trucks, local restaurants, or homemade goods. Food is known to bring people together, so you’ll be able to explore, participate in, and discover new social circles and on-campus activities while being fed for free.
Student activities committee
What better way to have free on-campus entertainment than to help organize it? Student activity committees are designed for college students to help organize both social and academic events on campus. Being a member of this type of group will allow you to plan, manage, and oversee activities that benefit your classmates in search of free entertainment like yourself. You’ll be able to socialize while collaborating with fellow members and be entertained while working together to provide entertainment. The best part? You can exercise your creativity in a way that educates, serves, and entertains your college’s student body.
Related: College Organizations and Activities Worth Getting Excited Over
How to find campus events
In our digital age, staying informed about local events and entertainment is simpler than ever. Start your quest for free fun with the following resources.
Your student email
Your college email account may be a tad more neglected than your personal one, but it can be an excellent resource to stay connected with free on-campus events. Student activity coordinators will often send out campus-wide announcements of upcoming events, dates and times, and available student freebies or discounts (they’re guaranteed to be mentioned to sweeten the deal).
Social media
Online platforms are the ideal way to promote events, especially for public speakers and individuals exhibiting their work that’s free for students on campus. Most universities and colleges have social media pages of their own; stay connected via your school’s Facebook, Twitter, etc. You should also follow the social media accounts for individual clubs, student organizations, and academic departments to keep tabs on specific calendar dates and free admission information.
Related: Using Social Media to Connect at College
Campus apps
The majority of colleges and universities have their own mobile apps nowadays. Campus apps are ideal for easily accessible information about free on-campus events for students. For example, California State University, Fullerton has an app called Titan Bites that alerts students when free or excess food is being given away at campus events. Besides apps designed by the school, you can also utilize apps to find more student freebies, like Too Good to Go.
Student union
The purpose of a student union is to offer a space for the student body to socialize, host events, study, and be unified as a community. Student union buildings often host campus events, banquets, workshops, and more. Locate the bulletin boards at your student union to find upcoming functions and on-campus events.
Your professors
Your educators can also be of service to you beyond your classroom learning. A variety of college professors require students to attend community and on-campus events for credit. As mentioned above, professors can also be public speakers for outside lectures and readings of their published work. In short, they're a great resource to know what free on-campus entertainment is happening.
Related: Connecting With Your Teachers: 5 Tips for Success in High School or College
Taking advantage of all the free events and activities on your college campus can be a really great experience. And there are a lot of ways to find these opportunities, from joining clubs to checking out campus newspapers to looking online for event listings. Finding fun and free stuff to do on campus will not only make your college experience more enjoyable but will help you connect with others and create lasting memories.
Find even more ways to have fun on campus in our Student Life section.
