At 7:30 a.m. on a school day, junior Maya Streicher waited at the gas pump, watching her total exceed $60, before heading to school to complete her daily obligations. 

Gas prices in New York have been increasing in recent weeks, rising over 25 cents in one week and 8 cents in only a few hours. The current statewide average is $4.46 per gallon, which is about 27 cents higher than on May 4, putting pressure on student drivers, commuting families, faculty and staff. 

Gas prices across the United States are shown, ranging from $3.32 to $5.89. The current prices of gas in the U.S. are the highest they have ever been since July 2022. The national average gas price has increased by 43.6% between May 12, 2025, and May 12, 2026.

For many students, the rising cost of gas has begun to shape everyday decisions about where they go, how often they drive and the sacrifices they need to make when considering what they can afford.

Thomas Duke ‘27 said, “I try not to make a bunch of little trips. If I’m going somewhere or picking up my sisters, I do it all at once now. The fact that going to the gas station is a huge purchase is so frustrating.”

Duke said he makes sure that when he is driving, he keeps his car in Eco mode, and from conversations with his family, he feels that they will eventually switch to an electric car.

Junior Ethan Smolkin just began driving this March, and although he doesn’t pay for his own gas, he has noticed the shift.

“It is just so surprising how much money it is for one tank of gas. I am fortunate that my parents pay for it, but there are kids who need to pay for their own gas.”

He continued, “If prices keep rising, people are going to have to be more careful about how much they drive. Even just going out to see someone might become something you think twice about.”

While some students live close enough to school that the impact is limited, others with longer commutes may face more severe challenges, especially if they don’t have access to alternative transportation.

“I think it’s important for people to understand that students are balancing school and work,” Smolkin said.

The Dean of Global Studies at Masters Pilar Méndez-Cruz, usually drives an estimated total of 30,000 miles per year; however, due to rising gas prices, she has needed to drive a lot less.

She said, “I’ve definitely needed to rethink long road trips, and I now drive out of my way to fill up on gas, and even further to get to the cheaper gas station. It is really frustrating.” 

She continued, “I am very privileged that I live on campus and I am very close to my family, so the biggest way it has affected me is my ability to travel over long distances. However, seeing those prices gives me so much anxiety for how that affects people who live paycheck to paycheck.”