Prom is one of those events we’ve all looked forward to—getting dressed up, dancing with friends, and just enjoying one last big night before graduation. But this year, the price tag is giving some of us pause.
In the past, prom tickets were around $30 to $45, and there were discounts for couples, which made it a little easier on everyone’s wallets. This year, tickets were announced at $50 per person—no couple discount, no flexibility.
The venue is the same as last year—the Paseo del Norte Hotel—so the experience isn’t really changing. The difference? The PTA is trying to make up for paying for two years at the hotel, which is why the price went up.
Understandably, that didn’t sit well with a lot of students. After some pushback, tickets were dropped to $40 for the first two days of sales—a nice gesture, but still a sign that the original pricing didn’t quite match what students expected.
While we get that planning prom isn’t cheap, it doesn’t feel fair for students to be the ones covering past costs—especially when we weren’t involved in those decisions. For many people, $50 is a lot, and removing the couple discount only makes it harder to justify.
Prom should be something everyone can enjoy, not something that adds stress about money. It’s great that there was some adjustment after feedback, but hopefully in the future there can be more communication and student input from the start.
At the end of the day, we just want a fun night with our friends—without it breaking the bank.
