I can’t think of an expensive activity during our time on campus. Ok, we went to a big concert in DC and tickets were maybe $12. Occasionally, we went our for dinner or for a middle of the night breakfast at the all-night diner.
Granted, that was back then. But my daughters didn’t have any de rigeur expensive things going on, either. Their wealthy friends might travel with their families during a break, but I don’t consider that a peer (group) activity. Their friends were not running off to shop in boutiques on college weekends (there doesn’t tend to be an avenue of boutiques or Sephora around isolated campuses) or hang with IB types at chi chi happy hours. Instead, there were on-campus concerts and events. (Prospective applicants can check the school’s calendar.)
Of course those things may be available in large, not-isolated cities. And of course my kids knew others with cars. But isolated, by it’s nature,means not much to spend on besides those occasional dinners or take-out.