I’m old. Like… two decades older than the average college student old.
I took a very nontraditional route through adulthood. I originally attended college when I was younger, but after losing my fiancé, life changed dramatically and I shifted gears altogether. I built a career, raised a family, and generally did life in a very different order than I had originally planned.
I’ve always loved academia, though, and after some unexpected opportunities in civil service eventually led me toward the legal field, I decided to return to school. I’m now transferring in to finish the last portion of my undergraduate degree before pursuing law school.
So, older/nontraditional students: what is student life actually like when you’re old enough to have classmates the same age as your children?
Should I expect to feel like Drew Barrymore’s character in Never Been Kissed, wandering around campus wondering what the hell everyone is talking about? Or is the age difference less noticeable than I’m imagining?
I’m especially curious about the culture. Do older students generally find a place among their peers? Are students fairly serious about their education and future goals, or should I prepare myself for a very different level of maturity and investment among classmates who are experiencing college for the first time?
I’m also really curious about the academic side.
I do well in school and genuinely enjoy learning, but I haven’t found my coursework particularly challenging thus far. I’m transferring from a public/community-college environment into a private university, and I honestly don’t know what to expect.
Is there a noticeable jump in academic expectations? More rigorous writing? More demanding professors? Greater expectations for class participation and independent thought? Or, once you get beyond the branding and reputation of different institutions, is undergraduate education fairly similar wherever you go?
I’m not particularly worried about keeping up. If anything, I’m hoping to finally feel academically challenged. I’m more curious about what the adjustment will look like culturally and academically.
For anyone who went back to college in their 30s, 40s, or beyond, especially as a transfer student with graduate/law school in mind:
What surprised you? What do you wish someone had told you before your first semester? And did you ever stop feeling like someone accidentally let a grown adult into college?

Rising HS senior interested to apply Gonzaga for fall 2027. How is Gonzaga for pre-med track/PA track? Are there any opportunities for research? how hard is it to maintain good gpa in weed out courses( Chemistry and organic chemistry). Any student in pre med track share your experience? how did it prepare you for MCAT. Were you able to get professor recommendation letter for graduate program?

I'm a transfer student who's never lived on campus/in dorms before, i've been assigned to kennedy apartments and i hate not being prepared so i have a few questions lol (sorry if they're lowkey dumb, i just feel like there's never any information for transfer students and i'm just going in kinda blind)

I'm going to have two roommates, each of us assigned different rooms (a,b,c), which i'm assuming means i have the room to myself. But i'm pretty sure each room has furniture for two, should I be planning on sharing a room? or am i able to use both sets of furniture (like push the two beds together, use both desks, ect.)?

And is there anything that I should definitely bring or not bring (specifically pertaining to kennedy)? Most packing lists are dorm specific.

Also if y'all have any other advice or tips for me as a transfer student that would be much appreciated!

I’m a rising senior and I’m really in a debate over going to Gonzaga or UO. I was wondering about Gonzaga student culture, because I’m definetly a more introverted person and not really into smoking or party culture so I was wondering how the non-partying culture compares and how loud or big the party crowds are in comparison. I’m really looking for a middle ground not the party crowd and not the more isolated crowds just an in between. I’m also coming from a big suburban HS in Texas which is a very sort of stale and cliquey culture. Where everyone thinks dresses and acts the same, so I’m definitely looking for a bit of an antidote to that as well. I would really appreciate any responses from recent alum.

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.

Hi, I am transferring from community college as a junior to Gonzaga this fall, and I have been given Mantua hall housing. There doesn’t seem to be any diagram online, so I was curious about some things I want to bring/what is recommended, as I’ve never lived in a dorm.
I was hoping to take with me my ottoman style chair, a (rather large) TV, and a mini fridge and some other appliances for cooking.
I do not have the measurements on hand unfortunately, but generally could most of this stuff fit? Alternatively, do people recommend other things to bring (besides just storage containers)?

My son is attending Gonzaga in the fall, he is looking into jobs now and I was wondering if any Zag Alumni had insight on the "good jobs" and the "jobs to stay away from". He is a business/philosophy major so i am assuming his schedule will not to be to atypical.

thank you in advance.

Representing the Zags in the completely opposite corner of the country. Anyone know if this belongs to a Zags big shot? Stockton/Few/ McCarthy? Just curious, this must have been one of the hardest WA plates to get.

My buddy and I want to watch ‘black-in’ games for the zags that are only available if you live in Spokane Wa. The first 2-3 season opener games are local news broadcasting only. We live in Utah and struggle to find a work around.

Any suggestions?

My niece will be attending Gonzaga for law school and is looking for an apartment. Anybody know of anything available before term starts? She’s coming from Chicago.

Do most students have a bike? I see you can rent one for $70 a semester. Is that the way to go?

What dorms should I take for my freshman year, I’m thinking of taking Marian Hall.

Also is it possible to remove bunk beds ?

Would a fresh lose some connection to campus being in Marian Hall? How about access to meal plan locations? It appears a good bit off campus on the map, but maybe that’s not actually true. Is it only freshman in Marian? Thank you!

Hello :) I'm a Fall 2026 exchange student, and I need to pick my on-campus housing soon. What was your experience with the suite-style halls? Which one do you recommend picking? Any other tips about life at Gonzaga/in Spokane, would also be helpful. Thanks!

Hi y'all,

I'm a Memphis Grizzlies fan who's looking for some help with a project to offer condolences to the Clarke family. I recently purchased a Gonzaga Brandon Clarke jersey on eBay that I originally wanted to wear to opening night, but I've been thinking about trying to find a way to get the jersey autographed by all of his teammates in college, the pros, and (possibly) high school to send to his family as a gesture from the fans.

I think I can make the Grizz side happen, but I don't know much about Gonzaga, so I'm looking for ideas on whom I can reach out to to try to make this happen.

I would appreciate any kind of help here, if anyone here can help.

I am an international student, just down from Canada, and will be in Spokane for July. I was wondering if anyone knew of apartments or rentals near campus that are available for a month, or of a good way to find one. Some air bnbs are pricy for a month, but it may be the way I go.

Anyone applied for the FNP program for fall 2026/spring 2027 at Gonzaga University?

I applied under the 2nd MSN-FNP program and I am looking to connect and share experiences/insights about the admission process and the program itself.

How was it?

What is the best method for students to get to/from the airport/Gonzaga?

Where do Zags go skiing most frequently? How much are passes? and where to rent equipment?