Many students don’t realize they have complete access to health care right on campus – let alone that they have been paying for it each semester.

The Student Health Center offers dozens of services to all enrolled students. Whether or not they use the services, students pay $132.50 in fees – up 60 percent from $82.50 previous semesters, according to Cal State LA’s Student Financial Services website.

So what resources do these fees get you?

As an enrolled student, you can get psychiatric, dental and optometry services, and even X-rays, according to the Student Health Center website. Aniha Pratap, a medical assistant at the center, said that students are able to utilize other non-emergency services such as massage therapy and nutritional services, CPR training, victim assistance and the pharmacy.

Students who use it say it can be an affordable alternative.

“I have used it for a few things here and there the past few years for refilling my prescriptions, shots, and when I had a bad ankle…. It was pretty simple to schedule and it’s pretty convenient if you’re already on campus and since we’re having to pay for it we may as well be using it,” said fourth-year student Daria Hoffman, who used the center her first three years on campus.  

The Student Health Center is located right off the main walkway between the Career Development Center and the Annenberg Science Complex. It is open for appointments Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. and Fridays until 4:45 p.m. Although it do not offer emergency services, the center has an express clinic for urgent needs outside of normal business hours. The Center can be reached at 323-343-3300.