Students coming into SIU might find an attraction of the lush Thompson Woods and stunning academic buildings but once here what they really want is a parking spot right next to the door.

For underclassmen who live on campus, the green stickers cost $110 for an academic year. That is lower than the price for Eastern Illinois University, where for a full academic year it can cost $200.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is six times the yearly cost at $660, according to its website.

Commuters parking stickers at SIU, which are red, are also $110 for a year.

At Southeast Missouri State University, yearly parking stickers cost $105 a year.

At the University of Missouri—Columbia, the commuter pass costs $120 for a full academic year.

Lt. John Allen, of the SIU Police, wrote in an email parking is not free at universities because it costs money to create and maintain parking lots.

The yearly revenue produced by the sale of decals is used to offset roadway and parking lot maintenance as well as lighting for the parking lots, Allen said.

Though some students may complain about the lack of parking, there were 137 additional parking spots added for the 2014-2015 academic year.

Still some students are unhappy about the number of parking lots on campus. Paige Langston, a junior from Vienna studying elementary education, said her experience finding parking has been terrible.

“It’s hard to find a spot,” she said. “It’s made me late to my classes many times.”

Besides finding an open spot, Langston said navigating campus parking can be puzzling.

“When I first started going here, it was extremely confusing to find red lots,” Langston said. “I had to sit down and use the SIU parking map with a friend and figure out what lot I could even park at.”

But not all students have a problem with the number of lots on campus.

Nathan Ray, a junior from Carbondale studying finance, had a different opinion about the situation.

“I have never had a problem getting a parking spot,” he said. “It might not be a good [parking space], but at least it’s closer than walking from off campus.”

With the revenue generated from the parking division, road and parking lots improve.

The charges for stickers pay for the university’s parking facilities, making the campus safer for both pedestrians and drivers, Allen said.

“The Department of Public Safety works with the Traffic and Parking Committee in the development of future projects to build parking lots and roadways,” he said.

Besides purchasing parking stickers, students may have to worry about other costs associated with leaving their cars on campus.

William Recktenwald, faculty representative to the Traffic Appeals Board, said not knowing and following the rules will cost students money.

“Parking on campus without a sticker or the wrong sticker can be a $75 parking ticket,” he said.

Recktenwald said if a student receives a parking ticket, there are ways to have it erased through an appeal process.

“There are several steps but the first involves communicating to the Parking Division, telling them why you shouldn’t receive the ticket,” he said. “In many cases they void the ticket right away.”

If the Parking Division decides not to void the ticket, students can appeal to the appeals board in writing or by appearing in person.