Aside from paying the tuition for Hoban, students soon discover many costs that aren’t included in the $7,400 bill.

The first extra charge ranges from $49 to $62 and covers the cost of religion books. Juniors taking honors English are required to purchase a $15 PSAT prep book.

Then, once students start school in the fall they are hit with the numerous t-shirt sales: $10 for a Mum-day shirt, $10 for a game-day shirt, $10 for the shirt for whichever club that a student chooses to join. Most students join more than one.

Sweatshirts range in price from $20 to $40. True, students aren’t required to buy any of these shirts, but if a student doesn’t buy a game day shirt they are required to wear their official school shirts everyday. Choose not to buy a Mum day shirt, and risk sticking out on Mum day—an especially nerve-wracking proposition for freshmen. Likewise, in the cold winter weather sweatshirts come in handy.

The official school shirts are $19.50 a shirt. Students usually need to purchase at least five shirts to get through a week. This quickly adds up to close to $100. Students also need to purchase pants to wear to school. Although school pants can be worn elsewhere, unlike the shirts, they can still be costly. Buying five pairs of pants can quickly add up to $200, and most students prefer to have more than just five pairs of pants.

In addition to the cost of clothing, students are asked to sell at least $100 in raffle tickets. If students want a free day, they have to sell $125 worth of raffle tickets. Selling the raffle tickets is not optional. Students who don’t sell their tickets have the cost added to the tuition bill. Most students have their parents simply write a check to pay for the tickets.

Transportation can be costly as well. Gas prices are high and many students do not live close to school. Busing is provided for some students, but students riding the Hoban bus are charged $800. Any student who wishes to drive to school must pay at least $55 for a parking pass, provided they purchase it before Sept. 1.

Already, before the first quarter is over, students have added at least $560 to the cost of tuition. True, not all of these costs are mandatory, but even without the T-shirts and sweatshirts, students still add approximately $500 to the tuition.

As the year continues, students are asked for even more money. School lunch prices rose this year. Now students are charged $1.35 for fries, 75 cents for a mooshie cookie and $2.75 for stromboli. Added together with the 65 cents for a can of pop, lunch can easily exceed $3 a day.

Belonging to or even attending sports and cocurricular activities can also be costly. Most varsity sports cost $4 presale for student tickets or $6 at the door. Attending just three games a month is easily $12, provided a student buys all of his or her tickets at the pre-sale rate and buys no refreshments at the game. The fall play and winter one acts cost $4 for students and $5 for adults. The spring musical costs $6 for students and $8 for adults.

As the year continues on students will be asked for money: field trips, retreats, donations of money and food for a club or sport, as well as $55 for a yearbook. As spring comes around so does Banglabash, a minimum of $50 to get a T-shirt and $100 to be allowed to wear shorts for only a few weeks. Although Banglabash is an excellent charitable event, it can be costly.

At first some of these costs may seem a bit excessive; however, the value students receive for the dollars spent makes it all a wise investment.

Taking into consideration that the budget to run Hoban is over eight million dollars, a simple calculation will prove that the $7,400 per student tuition doesn’t cover this expensive budget. The other two million needed to maintain the school comes from the state through mandated services, donations from alumni, cafeteria income, and other sources.

Brother Ken Haders, school president, expressed his concern about keeping the cost of tuition affordable.

“We try very hard to keep the tuition low, if you compare us to some other local high schools, our tuition is reasonable,” Haders said. “We run a tight ship and we are able to do it due to our generous benefactors.”

Aside from the cost, the education received here can be very beneficial when finding a college during senior year. Last year’s graduating class received over $10 million in offered scholarships and grants. The Class of 2006 received closer to $14 million.

Although not all this money was used, it is a tangible example of how a Hoban education can benefit students in a financial way.

Senior counselor Vince Andreani believes Hoban prepares students to be successful.

“Kids that come through here want to get prepared for college and succeed,” Andreani said.

The high number of scholarship dollars offered and its large enrollment numbers, has helped Hoban become one of the most respected schools in the area.

Of course, all of these financial benefits are nice, but the true value of Hoban lies much deeper than tangible proof. Haders cited many conversations he has had with parents and former students on the value of Hoban.

“First, Hoban is a very good school; there is a sense of family that is highly valued. We teach, coach, and expect certain values,” Haders said.

Class of 2007 graduate Tenishia Benson, last year’s class president, truly appreciates what Hoban had to offer.

“As a result of all the caring people and close community, I have come to appreciate it more,” Benson said.

Having just returned from the beatification of Father Moreau, Haders expressed many of the Holy Cross values that were discussed at the ceremony.

“The Catholic values and the diversity are what make us one in the Holy Cross tradition. We are value centered and all of the teachers truly care about the students,” Haders said.

These values are what made Hoban such a special place for former students like Benson.

Although the Catholic education is highly valued, it is the finished product that is truly being paid for.

“Values added are what you are paying for, but you get even more. It is not about the money, it is about the quality of people that come out of here year after year,” Haders continued.

So while the costs can add up quickly, so can the benefits of a seemingly expensive Catholic school education. It is whether students take these benefits and values with them when leaving Hoban that determines how well their money was spent.

Benson, now at the University of Cincinnati, believes her money was well spent.

“Hoban has greatly prepared me for college and life outside of school by teaching me discipline in academics, athletics and all the other areas of my life.”