Class rings, a once-honored tradition, are now a costly mistake. The rings have lost their charm. With a price tag of half a grand, colleges should not be surprised when they lose favor with students.
Originally a tradition started in 1835 at the United States Military, these rings served as a conversation starter and led to important connections with people outside of college campuses due to a shared sense of comradery.
In the 190 years since, a lot has changed, particularly higher attendance in college. In the 19th century, there were a little over 800 universities in the U.S. Now, there are over 6,000.
One thing that has changed is the elitism. The former exclusionary nature of college made class rings an effective display of status, but with more people having college access, it has simply become a fashion choice.
For those looking to have a memento of college, there are far more meaningful and less costly choices. UTSA rings start at $533. While the university justifies this cost with, “No other single item replicates the uniqueness of UTSA,” one look at the ring tells a different story. There are only so many ways to make a ring — small as it is — different from other rings.
College is already a huge expense for students, who typically work low-paying jobs. In a time when everything is more expensive, the idea that students should feel obligated to buy a ring to be connected with the school is outrageous. The expensive degree they pay for should be enough to feel connected with the school. Mementos bring more joy than a ring bought through a form with a deadline.
